Science catching up with the Bible---FINALLY!

Dear friends and readers,

As a follower of Christ, have you ever wondered why incredibly intelligent people such as scientists, cannot seem to get it right?  Not all of course because their are some extremely serious Christian believers who are scientists.  But on the whole, these people seem to deny anything they cannot physically touch or feel.  No room for a Spiritual God, even though they themselves cannot figure out how it all began.  Maybe it is a matter of being locked up in sterile laboratories with no one to talk to but monkeys and lab rats?  Scientific vision clouded by beakers, microscopes and text books?

Of course there is nothing wrong with education and text books.  I have some myself.  But it does amaze me that people who deny anything having to do with an unseen God, can at the very same moment enjoy toast cooked via electricity that itself cannot be seen.  Feel invisible wind on their faces at the beach, understand unseen gravity and believe in some mystical vast universal explosion that created the universe billions of years ago (with zero evidence by the way).  And actually---I will never understand this one---believe and teach that all life began at a moment in time when a single celled amoeba of some unknown origin, with no thinking capacity what so ever "DECIDED" to crawl up out of the primordial ooze to become some kind of prehistoric beast that eventually became a monkey who then turned into---a man? Wow.

So I said to myself, self I said, why then over vast millennia has man not changed one tiny little iota into say, a "ecostratocumba"?  You say you have never heard of a "ecostratocumba"?  Well, neither have I but I figure if highly intelligent scientists can creatively invent such utter nonsense, then I can invent a new name for a future creature who will never ever exist!

Creative license.

Just today I ran across an article originally printed in "BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS" by a Canadian born resident of Jerusalem named Yehezkel Laing.  Fascinating.  The basic thrust of the article is slowly admitted new evidence that scientists now believe indicate,  ALL mankind can be traced back to one man and one woman.  What an amazing revelation!  Gosh if only some of those people had read that very thing in the book of Genesis of Bible fame, they could have saved an awful lot of monkeys and lab rats.

You know, the story of the original man and woman, Adam and Eve?  Garden of Eden and all that stuff?  Have you noticed that it is so much easier to believe obvious truth than to work up endless theories to deny it?  So apparently new studies based upon DNA suggest that all women can be traced back to one single female and all men to one single male.  There has been something floating around the scientific world called "The Multiregional Hypothesis" which was believed an indicator that suggested multiple origins for humanity in general.  More modern research now indicates humanity has a common source.  Do you remember all that we were told since 1987 about this new evidence?  No?  Well, perhaps that's because we were not told.  But apparently there was a published study investigating common origins in 1987.  The study researched something called "MITOCHONDRIAL DNA"  which is passed from a mother to both daughters and sons.  Therefore it reveals maternal lineage.

Based upon this study, researchers were able to determine that EVERY SINGLE HUMAN BEING alive today can trace their ancestry back to one single human female.  So much for one celled organisms and primordial ooze!  Scientifically speaking this single woman is now referred to as "MITOCHONDRIAL EVE".  They are trying to narrow down the window of life for this first woman and now believe it as few years ago as a mere 100,000.  I could help them with a short Bible study but hey, if I did that who would spend all that Government sponsored research money?

Oops, do you suppose that God, the Creator of human life might object to these scientific doubters and unbelievers appropriating the name of Eve?  Talk about plagiarism!  Next we will find that they will also be using ADAMS name.  They wouldn't go that far would they?  Surely not.

Err, well maybe they would.  Seems like another discovery was made in 1995.  Gosh that means it only took the great scientific minds a mere 8 years to marry off MITOCHONDRIAL EVE to "Y-CHROMOSOMAL ADAM".  Ancestral Adam to us common folk.  In fact this new study confirmed that the Y-Chromosome is passed through a single male to his sons.  No daughters by the way, just sons.  Well let me see if I can understand this.  That must mean that in order to continue the human race, a man is needed to pass on his Y-Chromosome and a woman must  come together with that man so she can pass on her mitochondrial DNA to their off spring.  One man, one woman, makes sense to me.  But then that concept was also clearly stated in the book of Genesis.  But heck why belabor the point, right?

Golly, I just had a thought.  Do you suppose that this new line of scientific thinking could also lead to our brain trust finally realizing there is a reason why they have discovered sea shells on the highest mountain tops? Dude, that's way out there for certain.

I will quote just one original paragraph from the article I read. "The studies were quickly attacked by other researchers. But subsequent studies confirmed the original findings and the theory is now generally accepted by the scientific community".

How original of them.

God bless,
pastor Rance.

OLD TESTAMENT! COMMON SENSE OR LEGALISM? CAN THERE BE A BALANCE?

Dear friends and readers,

Recently I posted a comment on my FaceBook page and was surprised to have a negative comment.  Not that we all don't receive some negativity from time to time but this one did surprise me and I thought, well, maybe this would be good time to write an article about the subject matter which is SHABBAT.  Another way of saying that is a Sabbaths days rest, featured as the 4th commandment in Exodus chapter 20 verses 1-17, of 10 Commandment fame.


To clarify so were are all on the same page, if you are a Christian, who has repented for your sins and accepted Jesus Christ as Lord, you have been given the most valuable treasure in the entire Universe.  Salvation!  Eternal salvation bought and paid for by the voluntary sacrificial death and resurrection from the grave of the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings, Jesus Christ, the Messiah of Israel.  There is no work you can do to earn it, no amount of good works, lighting candles, giving money, or even a lifetime of going to church.  You could literally observe every Sabbath until the cows come home and it will get you nothing but a well deserved rest each week.  But that is the point I will get to later in this article.  You cannot obtain salvation by obeying the laws of the Old Testament.  It is a free gift from God Himself based solely upon your belief that Jesus is Lord.  But the Old Testament is filled with wisdom and if sought diligently one can clearly see the Messiah, King Jesus as though looking through a beautiful pane of pure crystal.  Don't make the mistake, as do some believers and  discount the Old Testament and in so doing throw out the baby with the bath water.

Romans 10: 9-10  "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.   For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation".  Simple, nothing else required.  Period!

Of course there is also ample scripture telling us that AFTER salvation some things are expected of us.  Ephesians 2:10  "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them".   Then there is Luke 6:46  (Jesus speaking)  "But why do you call me Lord, Lord and not do the things which I say?  "Bottom line folks, because we are believers saved by grace does not mean we can sit around on our laurels and wait for Him to get here.  We need to be about our heavenly Fathers business  (Luke 2:49).

The statement I posted on FaceBook was on Friday evening.  Here it is.  "Jerusalem is 10 hours ahead and their Shabbat begins at 5:38 p.m.  Ours is coming soon.  What does that mean to us?   It means that we can take a break for 24 hours IF WE CHOOSE TO DO SO.  NO LEGALISM IN THAT FOLKS!  Mark 2:27 tells us that the Sabbath was made for men.  It also says that Jesus is the Lord of our Sabbath.  God gives us permission to step back and take a day off with Him, our families and friends, in fact the 4th Commandment actually Commands it.  Why is that anathema to so many Christians today?" End of comment, pretty simple to understand, don't you think?

I received a reply, very politely given by the way from an extremely nice person but telling me that I might want to refresh myself with the second chapter of Colossians.  A scripture that warns against legalism.  But the writer was insinuating that voluntarily observing a Sabbath days rest was somehow observing the commandments and doctrines of men and "Let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or  Sabbaths".  I had to ask myself, am I judging anyone or giving solid Biblical advice?

???  Well, I have run into this before so I do understand.  However it does make one wonder when I clearly said IF WE CHOOSE TO DO SO and NO LEGALISM IN THAT FOLKS.  So lets clear the record because Over my years in ministry as a working pastor I have discovered something.  Many Christians have by one means or another become petrified at the thought of ever straying into the law of the Old Testament  because that would mean they are rejecting their salvation through grace.  I don't intend this article to sound defensive in any way but I do have concern because healthy BALANCE is possible between Old and New Testaments.

So, lets agree on better wording for that issue, shall we?  If Christians tried to go back and observe the law as a means of obtaining salvation then they would in fact be rejecting salvation through grace.   That does not mean that every single word of the Old Testament needs to be anathema to Christians.  If that were the case then why are both the Psalms and Proverbs recited in nearly every church of the land?  Why are there Bible studies (after Bible studies, ad infinitum) on the book of Ruth, Esther and Song of Solomon?  I Bet you yourself have attended some.  And maybe one on the 10 Commandments as well?

There is a lot of confusion for some believers about exactly what "THE LAW" is.  In the Old Testament it is believed by most scholars both Jew and Christian alike that there are 613 laws in the Old Testament.  James 2:10 says  " For whoever will keep the whole law and yet stumble in one point is guilty of all".  Clearly no one could ever NOT stumble somewhere on all these laws so we know that salvation by keeping the law is simply not possible.  That is why the Lord Jesus Christ provided salvation as a free gift of God for us through His sacrifice on the cross at Calvary.  But speaking of Jesus, He also said in Matthew 5:17 "Do not think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets.  I did not come to destroy but to fulfill".

Lets take that in reverse order;   Jesus came to fulfill the prophets?  Well folks, a tremendous amount of Old Testament prophecy is yet to come true and will not completely be fulfilled until the very end of the 1000 year reign of Christ on this earth.  Jesus said "I came to fulfill"---future tense. He did not say "when I came I fulfilled"---past tense.  Clearly He is in the process of fulfilling the Prophets but there is much work yet to be done.

 Now for the law;  The original law was given to Moses on Mount Sinai in the form of the 10 Commandments, something that appears today on very many court houses, all across America including the United States Supreme Court.  That document had nothing what so ever to do with the 613 other Old Testament laws.  In fact the 10 Commandments were the only laws commanded by God to be placed in the Arc of the Covenant.

So, let's talk for a moment about Jesus coming to fulfill the law.  He will not fulfill all the law until the moment of His second coming.  You don't think so?  Well let's look at todays events, over 2000 years after the Lord spoke those words.   Is there still murder in this world including on occasion among believers?  Are record numbers of pastors, and elders falling from grace because they have cheated on their wives and slept with a secretary or church member?  Has there been in recent years SEVERAL female adult school teachers who have had sexual relations with their students and some of these women wore crosses around their necks?   Did you know that it is believed that a full 68% of western church going men are addicted to internet porn?  Or that Focus on the family and several other church helps groups offer pornography counseling to pastors AND pastors wives?  Really, pastors wives?  YES!  How many stories have come up recently about holy men and priests having sex with children?  Church board members or treasurers absconding with church funds?
I am not trying to paint a dark picture here about the church folks because this is merely the tip of the worldwide iceberg and things are even worse in the secular world.  But this is very real and the scriptures say that Jesus came to fulfill (future event) the law and the prophets but clearly that complete fulfillment is yet future.  He did not say "I FULFILLED,  as in already accomplished.

Some will say, but what about the Lord's statement while on the cross of Calvary?  "IT IS FINISHED"?  Does that not mean that in that instant He fulfilled all things?  And the answer to that is no, He did not.  What He did do was to seal the New Covenant with His shed blood and provide the way for all mankind to enter into salvation as a free gift of God purchased at great expense by the atoning death of the only sin free person in all of history.

 But again, both the work of fulfilling the prophets and completing the works of the law are yet future.  Does that run counter to salvation through grace?  No, for those who will accept that free gift.  But remember that a huge majority of the over 7 BILLION people on the earth today have so far rejected Christ as have a large percentage of Jews who are still trying to gain their salvation through the works of the law.

NOTE:  There have always been a remnant of Jews who accepted Jesus Christ as their Messiah.  All of Jesus original disciples and Apostles were Jews and even many Pharisees followed Christ after the resurrection.  They were able to make that "leap in faith" because the doctrines of the Pharisees allowed for resurrection from the dead and when they saw Jesus walking around Jerusalem alive AFTER they saw Him die on the cross, they simply could no longer deny Him.  The Sadducees and scribes (members on the Sanhedrin along with the Pharisees) did not believe in resurrection from the dead  and even though they experienced both with their own eyes, continued to reject Christ as Messiah.  However it should be noted that a healthy "MESSIANIC" population is growing both inside and outside Israel today.  Messianics are Jews who have come to faith in Jesus Christ as Messiah.

Now regarding the 10 Commandments;  For 33 years of full time ministry I have been asking Christians if they believe the 10 Commandments still apply to them?  I am guessing that fully 97% have said yes, of course they do.  I also have 130 lengthy articles on the internet and many have referred to exactly this issue without ANY---not one single complaint about the 10 Commandments being legalistic.  Except for 1 of the 10.  Bet you can't guess!  When asked if the 4th Commandment---a Sabbath days rest applies to Christians at least the same 97% have registered a variation of "no way Jose, that's just Jewish legalism".  Ok, 9 good, 1 bad.  Could it be that God made a mistake?  Should He have left that one out or is it simply because it is not popular?  Let's have a moment of honesty here shall we?  The moment of honesty I will give you is this;  The 10 Commandments are not Jewish anything.  They are Godly everything.  The Jews did not write them, God wrote them with His own finger.

So, lets go back again and reiterate.  Obeying all the 10 Commandments will not bring you salvation but you would have plenty of time to think about that from your jail cell.

10 Commandments in brief: GOD SPEAKING!

1). You shall have no other God's before me.  Not bad, we can all agree on that one.
2). Don't worship false gods.  No argument from Christians there.
3). Don't take the Lord's name in vain.  Ok, so far were good.
4). Sabbath rest.  Oh no, no way, that's just Jewish legalism!!!  Can't have that in the body of Christ.
5). Honor your mom and pop.  By the way you will live longer if you do.  100% on that one.
6). No murder.  That's jail time and who would possibly want that?
7). No adultery.  Of course not, who do you think we are?   Hmph!
8). No stealing.  Probably just County jail on that one.  But still not a good idea.
9). No lying about your neighbors.  Well for goodness sake.  What believer would do that?  Liars will NOT inherit the Kingdom of God!  Whoops, thats a New Testament quote.  Another mistake?  Mixing Old Testament with New Testament?  How scandalous is that?  Hmph!
10). Don't covet your neighbors wife or stuff.  Probably jail time in that also if you don't get shot by a jealous husband.

Yep no way, lets just chuck the 10 Commandments because they are definitely legalistic.  Really?  And while we are at it lets just give in to the liberal lefties who want to take all the 10 Commandments down.  Maybe they are right after all, it's obviously not healthy for our children to see any Biblical  kind of stuff that violates church and state mandates.  It's far better for school officials to give them condoms instead!  Oh and if the little kiddies get pregnant?  Well, no way parents are allowed to know that.  Hmph!

Let's get real folks, as a Christian you cannot have it both ways.  You either accept that God Himself gave the 10 Commandments or that He made a mistake.   Having said that, Jesus did come to bring a New Covenant, the basis for which is salvation through grace.  The question is, if something is important to God, should it not also be important to His people?  No absolutely, observing the 4th Commandment in itself cannot accomplish salvation and no one should celebrate the Sabbath as any form of Legalistic requirement.

But how about this zinger?  Mark chapter 2 verse 27.  This is NOT Moses speaking. This is NOT one of the Old Testament prophets speaking.   This is Jesus speaking, the one who provided us with salvation through grace.  The one who brought the New Covenant. "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.  Therefore the Son Of Man is Lord of the Sabbath"!  Folks, if you do not want to take a Sabbaths days rest you will not loose your salvation.  But how about loosing your family after years and years of 24-7?  As  pastor, I see that happening frequently!!!  The Sabbath days rest is a beautiful gift wrapped present that the Creator of the Universe prepared for mankind because He knew that mankind needed rest just like God did after 6 days of Creation.  He gave us an example that most Christians reject out of fear of falling into legalism.  Open the present for goodness sake. Honest it won't hurt you.  Having said that I cannot always take a day off each week myself but I do understand the value of spending a day with the Lord, with my family and friends.

The attitude seems to be,  "but we can't do anything on the sabbath"!  No that is not what scripture says.  It is a day for you to back away from work.  A Sabbath days rest is NOT a list of things you cannot do.  It is a list of things you CAN do.  You can read your Bible and pray then spend QUALITY time with your spouse and kids.  You can have visits with family and friends.  You can laugh or go swimming.  You can be quiet and relax, take a nap, ride your horse, go for a ride in your car and chill out.

The whole idea is to get rested up because Monday comes soon enough.  No Christian should celebrate a Sabbath day because they have to but rather because they want to.  Also, Saturday which really is the original Sabbath may not work for you.  Many Christians consider Sunday as their Sabbath.  I was listening to a country song just yesterday while puttering in my shop.  It was speaking about a slow Sunday after church, taking a walk, having a family dinner and talking to one another.  Catching up as a family.

Ok, so I have had my say on this subject.  I just want to leave you with a thought.  Do you know what my wife and I see when we are out and about?  Entire families down to t-tiny little critters ALL texting and talking to everyone But each other.  As a ministry family we have had to make some rules for our own health.   Unless it is an emergency, we look upon our cell phones after 5 p.m. as just another invitation to talk.  Generally to someone other than our immediate family.  NO. NO, NO, NO. At 5 p.m. all the devices go off and it is family time.  Time to eat together and talk to each other.  Folks if you don't start doing that now, when your kids are grown and gone you will have NO ONE to talk to.  Believe me the kids won't melt if they have some rules in place regarding cell phones.

Being a Christian means living a life of balance.  Balance with work, family, church, and dare I say it?  Balance with understanding that while we are New Testament creations, we will not melt either if we open the Old Testament.  Many and I mean very many Old Testament prophecies may well begin to happen in your lifetime.  Will that surprise you when it happens?  Unfortunate, because God makes it abundantly clear in His word that He wants His people to know.  Did you know that Jesus Himself referred to the Old Testament?  It is the very foundation of the New Testament and the two should be viewed as ONE BIBLE!

Enjoy a day off with your family as often as you can and remember that Jesus will be there with you because He is Lord of your Sabbath.

God bless,
Pastor Rance.

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! Country basics #2

Dear friends and readers,

Last week I posted some country light hearted sayings and a bit of humor. My wife had been telling me for some time that folks out there in "reader-land" are just plain sick and tired of a diet of bad news every single night on the talking heads programs. So, as is the case for all good husbands I listened and obeyed (-:

Not too surprisingly the response on last weeks humor was great and told me she was right (as usual). Actually I was going back to MY basics this week with a very heavy article on this particular blog (I actually have three more, also published weekly) when the horror of Las Vegas struck America. So, first and foremost, my family and I are praying for all the victims of this evil senseless attack and particularly for the families of those who were slain.

Out of respect for the victims and as a country gent m'self, I decided to keep the atmosphere light again this week. So, for you country lovers here we go again.

Enjoy!

To know how country folks are doing look at their barns not their houses.

Never lay an angry hand on yer wife, kids or any animal. It just ain't polite or helpful.

Words that soak into your ears are whispered not yelled.

Meanness don't happen overnight. It grows overtime and is awful hard to shed.

Always dance with the one who brung you unless its kin.

How is it that a three pound cat can eat a four pound fish?

You can't blame a worm for not wanting to go fishing.

Stumbling over the truth can break a heart.

Proud wife: My whole dinning room goes back to Louis XIV.
Neighbor: That's nothin, my whole houseful of furniture goes back to Sears and Roebuck on the 15th!

A mom to little neighbor boy from the next ranch over: Are you sure you can cut your meat Johnny?
Johnny: Yep, the meats nearly always this tough in our house to.

Census taker from up the holler: What is your fathers income?
Son: About 3 a.m.
Census taker: I mean how much does he make each week?
Son: About 15 quarts.

A budget is a planned method of worrying.

Question from a neighbor: Do pastors talk in their sleep?
Wife of Pastor: No, they only talk in other peoples sleep.

Church board: The Pastor should change his name from Reverend to "Neverend".

Teacher: Why would Shakespeare be a very remarkable man today?
Pupil: Because he would be over 300 years old?

Son: Dad can you write with your eyes shut?
Dad: Sure.
Son: Well, shut your eyes then and sign my report card.

Dad receives a letter from son in college:
Dear Dad, no mon, no fun, your son!
Return letter: Dear son, too bad, so sad  your dad.

When both the speaker and the audience are confused, the speech is profound!

Country preacher: Honey, how did my jokes go over?
Preachers wife: On the Mayflower!

A country Grani: Traded her vacuum sweeper for a telephone. Said she could pick up more dirt that way.

God made woman during mans first sleep. He hasn't had any rest ever since.

Wife: "Time sure changes things".
Husband: " Yep, we got  married 20 years ago when we was both 25. Now I'm 45 and your only 30"?

Are all women shy about their age? Yes, about 10 years shy!

Country wife: I have an idea in my head.
Husband: Be kind to it, it's a strange place to be.

Child: "Mom, there is a man at the door with a package marked C.O.D."
Mom: "Tell him to take it back, I ordered salmon".

Rancher to hired hand:  "Do you ride horses"?
Answer: "No I'm better off"!

Teacher: "If I saw a boy beating a donkey and stopped him, what would I be showing?"
Pupil: "Brotherly love".

Americans have more time-saving devices and less time than anyone else on earth.

In this age of synthetics and substitutes, even the wool they pull over your eyes is half cotton.

Ode to our abode: Though we are the hosts in it, the bank owns most of it.

If you can't act your age, don't tell it.

Always getting into hot water will cook your goose.

Country boy: "What would you do in my shoes?"
Answer: "I'd shine them".

You can stand behind a horse but don't ever try that with a mule!

What you ain't up on, your usually down on.

Husband: What would you do if I died and left you dear?
Wife: That depends on how MUCH you left me.

A good bargain: Firewood warms you twice. When you cut it and when you burn it.

COUNTRY FOLKS: Laugh when you laugh, cry when you cry, know when your sick and care when you die. To be country is to be family! Now's the time for crying folks. For our country cousins in Las Vegas.

God bless folks and lets keep praying for all the victims of terror no matter where they are living.

Pastor Rance.

Tired of heavy reading? Try some good ole fashioned country wisdom.

Dear friends and readers,

The last few weeks I have published some pretty heavy duty articles, mostly because the world is speeding toward some pretty heavy duty stuff. Frankly, I'm sick of it and need a break. How about you? Tomorrow is another day so I think it high time to lighten the load.

This week I am posting some just good ole fashioned country humor and wisdom and I hope you can kick back and join me in a chuckle or two. I wish I could take credit for all of it as original think but the truth is I have gleaned it all from a combination of personal experience and other folks writings all the way back to 1955. ENJOY!

Country speak!
--------------------

If at first you don't succeed, try raising rabbits.

You don't miss the water till half the Alka Seltzer is hung in yer throat!

Grave marker in the country---"I TOLL YA I WAS SICK"!

A fella can't tell how happy he will be in twenty years until he meets his father in law.

A fancy title is about as useful as a curl in a pigs tail.

If wishes was horses some folks would need a lot of hay.

Life is like juggling a pitch fork---everyone knows when you mess up.

Whatever the illness, time and good coffee is the best cure.

A fella can kill himself with a fork and spoon.

Little pigs make big hogs!

Some fellas have more wishbone than backbone.

The only thing worse than finding a worm in yer apple is finding half a worm.

No jackass ever got ahead by kicking up his heals every night.

Don't even try to hold onto a barn cat against his will.

A clinging vine can choke a body.

Divorce chances the tire. A good marriage fixes the flat.

Some city folks think a square meal is a sandwich.

Country wisdom
----------------------

Don't look for a ship to come in if you never sent one out!

Tact is the knack of making a point without making an enemy.

Your only as good as your last time at bat.

Christians often keep convictions to themselves because they don't have enough heat in them to make a blaze.

Obstacles are those terrible things you see when you take your eyes off the goal.

If you are too busy to pray you are too busy.

In too many cases a home is a place to go until something important comes up.

A friend is someone who knows all about you and loves you anyway.

Co-operation solves many problems; A bunch of freckles would be a nice coat of paint if they could just get together.

The unpaid service you render to someone else only yields reward if you don't mention it.

Don't let yesterday use up too much of today.

Moderation in temper is good but moderation in principle ruins a man.

Not live and let live but live and help live.

Age gives one person wisdom another bad temper.

A man wrapped up in himself makes a pretty small package.

 My enemies are my friends who don't yet know me.

The world needs people with more WILL power, not won't power.

A person cannot always be a hero but he can always be a man.

If absence makes the heart grow fonder there are a lot of folks who really love the church.

The church is full of willing people. Some are willing to work and the others willing to let them.

Prayer is not a last extremity but a first necessity.

It's not where you are but what you are that determines your happiness.

Fear always produces the very thing it is afraid of.

A man who leads without himself leading others is no leader at all.

Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not; A sense of humor to console him for what he is.

Character is what you really are. A reputation is what others think you are.

A conversation without thought is mere gossip.

It's not the size of a dawg in a fight that counts, it's the size of the fight in the dawg.

The measure of a man is the size of the thing that gets his goat.

OFFICIAL The external nomenclature of a cow: 2 lookers, 2 hookers, 4 stander uppers, 4 hanger downers and 1 swishy ishy.

Have a great country afternoon folks

Pastor Rance.

God, is He warning America not to divide His land--ISRAEL?

Dear friends and readers,

Peace and grace to all of you in Jesus great Name!

Hot topics always elicit argument.  This article is one of those so be warned in advance.  I believe that God may possibly be warning the United States of America that it is unwise to continue pushing for a two state solution in the Middle east.  At least if that means dividing up the land of Israel to do so.

When I first began to pray about this article I knew full well that it would be controversial. Literally as I was about to push the publish button, Hurricane Harvey was beginning to strike the Texas coast and as we all know by now, wrought a level of flooding and devastation that is heart rending to say the least.  Thousands if not millions of people were effected in ways that may take years to recoup. Homes lost, family momento's that can never be replaced ruined beyond repair, animals suffering and dying and worst of all the cost in lost human life. This was obviously Not the time to publish an article of this type and I realized it would merely have come across as callous and uncaring. Then came hurricane Erma. It just seems to go on and on.

I do believe that the information contained here is worth consideration and so have opted to go ahead with publication after an appropriate time of grief and loss. Of course the term "appropriate" will I am sure be debated and rejected by some. You simply cannot please everyone.

On the upside of this catastrophe, was neighbor after neighbor helping each other, people and resources pouring in from all over the nation and even Israel sent teams to help. It was heart warming in that regard because we seem to be passing through yet another period (like we did back in the 60's and 70's) in which race relations have dropped to an all time low. Hatred seems to be everywhere.

Things like the despised KKK and Nazi thinking seem to be once again on the rise. Exactly opposite those groups are large assemblies of people who think they can resolve these issues through violence and seem to believe it is ok to loot and destroy in the process. But, what we saw during this horrible event were people of every race and color setting those issues aside and just helping out other human beings.  Perhaps there is still hope for us after all!

As I stated this article will most certainly be controversial so hang on tight.  The mere idea that God (for any reason) would warn or punish nations is something that is hotly debated even within Christianity. As always I will present some information and you decide for yourselves if there is any validity to it.

First a disclaimer: I have read and heard some far left and far right idiotic comments from mean spirited people who have intimated that this suffering was brought on by the victims themselves because they aligned themselves with certain political parties. What an insult. Need I say more? Victims are victims and require help from everyone, not ill thought condemnation.

Please know that I myself am not 100% confidante that there is a viable correlation between the actions of Governments and forthcoming Godly wrath. Also, I am not a prophet and cannot speak for God in this regard.  It is very difficult to tell any innocent person, particularly a believer that God just destroyed their house or took life as an act of divine judgement.  On the other hand, we cannot simply discount something that long years of evidence seems to point to certain realities.  No matter how I word this article it will "tick" someone off.  So please keep an open mind and examine the evidence and decide for yourselves.

There is a well know author by the name of William Koenig who wrote a somewhat controversial book in 2004 by the name of "EYE TO EYE".  You may remember that the cover depicts a photo of President George Bush looking at a Star of David.  This book was a raging success in some quarters and completely disregarded in others.

In the form of full disclosure, I am one who highly recommended this man's excellent work and still do.  In essence what this book did was to trace very bad decisions by the first Bush administration, President Clinton and then 8 years of Bush the junior. In other words fully 20 years of consistent, extremely bad Presidential decisions regarding the United States policies regarding Israel.  The setting is roughly 1991 through the books publishing date in 2004.  And of course after that another President made exactly the same error for an additional 8 years for a total of 28 years.   The question now is, are we about to embark as a nation on yet another 4 or 8 years of downhill slide into national oblivion through the hands of yet another President? I would like to add that including the current occupant of the White House, all 5 of the recent past Presidents have claimed to be Christians. While I certainly did not agree with many actions of each of these national leaders, I have no doubt that all of them acted in what they believed was the best interest of the United States and the American people.

What were these bad decisions?  Unilaterally trying to force Israel into dividing up her God given land in the mistaken belief that trading land for peace would ever work.  Mr. Koenig's book tracked several bad decisions by these administrations and coupled them with almost immediate catastrophic natural events that struck the United States, and other countries.  These ranged from earth quakes, to fire, flood, hurricanes, volcanic disruption and other events that cost the country hundreds of billions of dollars and many lives.

I believed then that these terrible events may well portend divine warnings and still do.  Those that rejected the findings of this great research book were mainly among those who did not think that a loving God would ever punish mankind for picking on His chosen people, the Jews or on His chosen land of Israel.

Tilt!  I wonder how Nebuchadnezzar felt about that after he was forced to eat grass like a wild animal for 7 years until he recognized God's authority (Daniel chapter 4).  Or how about his son King Belshazzar who blasphemed the name of God?  During a large celebration ( Daniel chapter 5), the king saw with his own eyes, a human hand (only) suspended in space and watched as one of the fingers wrote on the plaster wall of his chamber.  The words were "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsen".  That same evening the prophet Daniel was summoned to translate the message which read "God has numbered your kingdom and finished it.  You have been weighed in the balances and found wanting;  Your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians".  That very night Babylon fell and king Belshazzar was killed.

I can imagine that in everyone of these cases there were some very good people who also suffered because of bad decisions by their kings or national leaders. I suppose we could call that "collateral damage". That happens in every single war that has ever been fought including wars participated in by the United States. Innocent folks get hurt. Or as is fond of saying by many Christians, "bad stuff happens to good people".

Or how about King Herod the great of Israel?  In Acts chapter 12:23 he failed to give praise to God and was immediately eaten from within by worms.

Or how about all of the following nations who were utterly destroyed or faded into oblivion because they picked on or attacked Israel or the Jewish people?

Ancient Egypt,  Philistines,  Assyrian Empire,  Persian Empire,  Greek Empire,  Roman Empire,  Byzantine Empire,  The Crusaders,  Spanish Empire,  Nazi Germany,  Ottoman Empire,  Soviet Union,  And a considerable down sizing of the British Empire.

Is the United States above all that?  Is it too big to fail?  Not if the U.S. Government insists upon pressuring Israel to give up land for peace.

Have you noticed one of the most asked questions about the end times???  WHY IS THERE NO MENTION OF THE UNITED STATES in the end times prophecies?  Fair or unfair, this is an inconvenient truth.  It is simply not there at least in name or apparently in importance

One does wonder, if the current occupant of the White House really has the large reported cadre of important pastors advising him, did all those people somehow miss approximately 35% of the Bible that is prophetic in nature?  Or the absolute heart and mind of God toward His beloved Israel?  This article is not about politics and you will never see me writing in that venue.  Nor is it about Presidential personalities.  What it is about is simple taking a hard look at the consequences of bad decision making regardless of which political party or President makes the call.

If you never had a copy of "EYE TO EYE",  I highly recommend that you look up Mr. Koenig's web site and order one.  I do not know him personally and receive nothing for making this recommendation.  But, it is good information in a potentially devastating way.  What I want to do today is a brief review of some very intriguing history and then you decide for yourselves.

Hurricane Harvey may have been an extremely good example.   Called the worst disaster in Texas history although I am not certain that General Sam Houston and the (roughly 257) brave men who died at the Alamo would agree with that statement.  But we can agree that it is the worst disaster to befall Texas in modern times.   And in fact it is another in a long line of disasters that have struck the United States during a time when the countries leadership is trying to finagle peace between Israel and the so called Palestinian people at the cost of Israel giving up land to accomplish a two state solution.

It is interesting to note that the US National weather service described "HARVEY" as "unprecedented and beyond anything before experienced".  Guess who was in Israel at the time putting more pressure on this ridiculous, ungodly plan for mankind to somehow bring peace to a region that has never known peace?  Representatives of the Unites States Government.  Clueless is the only epithet that comes to mind.

Some people, particularly some of our Rabbinic friends believe it is a forbidden thing to attribute divine motivations to natural disasters.  Don't kid yourself folks.  God will get the attention of Government leaders and nations who come against His beloved Israel.

On October 31st 1991 President George H.W. Bush signed the Oslo Accords that set in motion the idea of of a two state solution. The very next day a hurricane called "the perfect storm" struck the east coast, and among other things, completely destroyed President Bushes own personal house in Kennebunkport, Main.  Coincidence?

Hurricane Andrew the worst natural disaster recorded until that time hit Florida one day after the infamous Madrid Conference  of August 23, 1992. Those talks were moved at the last minute from Madrid to Washington D.C. Coincidence?

A category 4 hurricane "Georges" struck the United States gulf coast killing 604 people and costing the United States economy $10 billion in 1998 immediately after Secretary off State Madeline Albright announced an American brokered deal that would require Israel to give up 13% of Judea and Samaria in return for peace.  A deal that utterly failed by the way.  Coincidence?

One month later hurricane "Madeline" again struck the coast of Texas killing 31 people and costing $750 million.  At that exact time Yasser Arafat was meeting the Israeli Prime Minister in the United States at the Wye River Plantation to discuss land for peace.  Another failed attempt.  Coincidence?

2005, hurricane "Katrina"ravaged the United States at the same time EXTREME pressure was placed on Israel to rip away it's own Jewish residents from their homes and farms in Gush Katif which was then handed over to Hamas in the Gaza strip.   Coincidence?

Is this limited to the United States?  Not even!  There was a Paris France summit intended to lead to the two state solution that would force Israel to cede large portions of her land WITHIN THE BOARDERS OF TINY ISRAEL to the Palestinians.  Once again this attempt failed but what did happen was that over the next 24 hours the River Seine rose 20 feet resulting in the worst flooding Paris had seen in several decades.  Coincidence?

Other warning voices have been heard but have been ridiculed, shouted down and insulted for even suggesting such a thing as divine judgement.  One such was former congresswoman Michelle Bachmann who warned in 2015 that "America's anti-Israel policy was bringing down the wrath of God in the form of natural disasters".

I know, I know, I can hear the skepticism now;   How could I even intimate such a thing, after all the current American  administration is very pro Israel.  Really?  Is the President right now still trying to force a peace deal?   YES! Is the American Embassy moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem?  NO! Has America officially recognized Jerusalem as the undivided eternal capital of Israel?  NO! Are we still pandering to the Palestinians and sending money to Hamas? YES! Money that Hamas then denies it's own people and spends to dig more tunnels and purchase more ammunition, guns and rockets to attack Israel? Absolutely!

Perhaps I somehow missed those things?

How about a dose of reality folks.  There are approximately 100 Biblical verses throughout the scriptures that foretell that all the nations of the world will eventually turn against Israel.  They begin with a very stern Biblical warning;  In Genesis 12:3 God is giving a promise to Abram (Abraham), NOTE:  Abraham is the father of the Jewish people.

"I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse those who curse you".  From there we visit Joel chapter 3 verse 2.  NOTE:  This is at a time when God is bringing the Jewish people back into Israel to posses their land.  It is part of the "DRY BONES" prophecy (among others) of Ezekiel chapter 37.

"I (GOD) will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;"  (Kidron valley that runs exactly between the eastern wall of the Temple mount where the Golden gate is located and the Mount of Olives),  "And I will enter into judgment with them there ON ACCOUNT OF MY PEOPLE , MY HERITAGE ISRAEL, whom they have scattered among the nations;  THEY HAVE ALSO DIVIDED UP MY LAND"!

Did you happen to notice that God said "ALL NATIONS". He did not say Presidents, Prime Ministers and Kings.  Like it or not, nations and the people in them pay a heavy price for decisions by their national leadership.  Call me the original old grinch folks but ALL includes the United States.  Joel 3:12  "Let the nations be awakened , and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;  For I will sit to judge ALL the surrounding nations.  Put in the sickle , for the harvest is ripe.  Come, go down; For the wine press is full, the vats overflow---For their wickedness is great".

And dare I mention Zechariah 14:1-2  "BEHOLD, the day of the Lord is coming, and your spoil will be divided in your midst.  For I will gather ALL THE NATIONS to battle against Jerusalem-----"!

Friends, no one likes to hear this stuff let alone dwell on it but for certain that time is coming quickly.   I cannot explain why innocents or believers would also have to suffer through any kind of event that smacks of divine judgement.   Perhaps that is why we have  Romans 8:28  "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose".  Or perhaps that is why God gave us the promise of the Rapture of the church in 1st Thessalonians.   Or the order of events of the Rapture in 2nd Thessalonians which I believe clearly indicates that the Rapture happens just before the revealing of the antichrist.

One of the great mystery's is this? On the one hand God the father chastising the nations for their stance against Israel and dividing up her land. On the other hand God the Son, Jesus Christ, helping His people who are going through devastating events.

If you are a person who cannot accept that God would punish a nation in response to it's position in regards to Israel, then nothing I can say will change your mind.  On the other hand if you are a person like myself who sees some disturbing correlations between pressuring Israel to give up land for peace and some terrible natural disasters, then all I suggest is that you keep an open mind. Examine the evidence for yourself.

I make no absolute judgements regarding these things.  But I am not blind either.  The jury is out.

But, the fact remains that there is absolutely zero mention of the most powerful nation on earth during the end times.  So, what does happen to Uncle Sam? And why? Hmmmm?

In other articles I have postulated that the reason the United States is not mentioned in end times scenarios is because it is the largest Christian nation on the planet and it may well be that it is devastated by the Rapture of the church. Only time will tell about that. But, could there also be another reason? A bankrupt United States who's national debt just hit 20 TRILLION dollars and clearly cannot afford many, many BILLIONS more for rebuilding after disasters?

Friends, according to scripture, the ONLY person that will ever be able to make a peace deal between Israel and her neighbors is the antichrist of Daniel chapter 9:27.  And no, I do not believe the antichrist has been revealed at this time.  For the United States, United Nations, any group of nations, president, foreign minister, prime minister or king to try and force Israel to give up land given to her by divine right is to invite disaster.  Period!

Luke 21:28 "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near".

Oh, and get that book @ Williamkoenig.com. Mr Koenig documents DOZENS UPON DOZENS of examples of horrible natural events that have immediately followed bad decisions by national leaders.

Probably all just coincidence, right? You decide for yourselves but please do so based upon evidence not feelings or emotions.

God bless,
Pastor Rance.

Encouragement for those feeling left behind---by the world

Dear friends and readers,

If you are anywhere near my age, you may be looking at a world that has passed you by, bye-bye !  Actually I know some much younger folks feeling the very same emotions and confusion?  Would that be the right word?  Maybe.  What happened to our world I ask myself?

I am writing this piece from the perspective of being born an American.  But I have traveled quite a lot and have seen very many really fine cultures close up.  Nice folks from various parts of the planet and all of them proud to be an ???  African,  Scottish,  English,  Mexican,  Israeli,  Russian,  Canadian,  Jordanian?  Well you get my drift.  What we all have in common is that we were---everyone of us created in the image of a Holy and righteous God.  Now I know that some of you reading this might not share my beliefs in the Christian Bible, but we can still be friends---and who knows, maybe I will rub off on you?  All I ask is that you consider what I am saying.

I was born before Israel once again became a state and raised in my early years by a father who said "don't tell me you can't, figure it out".  Had my first job when I was 14, married at 18 and the only job I could get was working in a 1600 foot deep limestone mine for $2.12 per hour breaking big rocks into little rocks with a 10 pound sledge hammer.  Been there and done that!  I understand calluses.

It was a comfort to me knowing that I could earn my own way.  Had a friend in the country high school I attended who became a rodeo "bronc rider" and was bucked off and killed his very first season.  He had no regrets because he was doing what he loved.  Me too and although I did in fact earn my living for some years with horses and livestock, I did other things to and everything in my world was viewed from the perspective of the American dream.  Men who worked for a living, were good for their word and a hand shake was considered gold.

If I didn't open a door for a lady when I was a kid I would get my ears boxed but good.  Never made that mistake again.  By the way, opening that door did not mean she could not do it for herself, it was merely a sign of respect.  I remember in my lifetime when NO ONE NO HOW spit on an American flag with making a trip to the emergency room.  The expression and general feeling in those days was "Grandma, apple pie and Old Glory".   Neighbors knew each other and all the neighborhood kids were every body's to raise.   Men were men when they started working and they married their sweet lady  right out of high school and started planning for the future including raising a family.  It wasn't too much unlike today in that frequently in order to make ends meet both parents were working.  But they were working together toward a better life for their children and had that dream of one day sitting on their front porch around 90 years old while generations of family came for Thanksgiving dinner.

That was a mere 50 years ago.  What has happened to our nation (and probably yours as well) is a sincere mystery to me although I shouldn't be surprised because I know what the Bible says and exactly where we are today was foretold by the ancient prophets long before I was born.   As a pastor, I taught about this end times stuff for years and yet it is still a bit shocking to see it all happening within my short lifetime.

Today, very many handshakes mean absolutely nothing.  We are seeing the 4th and 5th generation of welfare recipients many of whom have never held a job.  OLD GLORY is drug through  the streets, burned and urinated on.  People who want to speak in public are attacked by people wearing masks.  Not that the speakers opinions may have been right but it is their right to speak.  At least it used to be.  Now in stead of "Grandma, apple pie and Old Glory",  we  see constant hate, neighbors are barricaded behind shuttered and barred windows and doors.  Few care about the neighbors kids except child welfare services who have forbidden parents to spank an errant child.

Of course I should mention here that the Bible tells us Not to spare the rod else we spoil the child.  The result?  kids raised in one parent households, belligerent, in some case physically fighting with teachers, grammar school kids receiving condoms from school officials and parents are not allowed to know about it.   This is now the country of POLITICAL CORRECTNESS.  P.C. has ruined an entire nation and people are now in very real fear of offending someone.

Now I believe in being polite, honoring other people, respecting a man or woman regardless of color or ethnic background.  But P.C. says that is no longer enough.  Now it's bad for some folks to be white.  Bad for others to be black, terrible for people of God to teach the scriptures exactly as written.  Christians, because we do believe in God's word are called hate mongers.   Everything is upside down.  In 50 short years.

My only solace is reading my Bible and knowing that all the answers are there for those who want to find them.  Matthew chapter 24:4-14 uses this kind of language.  (Jesus speaking), Many will come in My Name.  Wars and rumors of wars.  Nation will rise up against nation and kingdom against kingdom.  Famines,  pestilence,  earthquakes,  BUT THE END IS NOT YET!

In these same verses there is a warning.  ALL THESE THINGS ARE THE BEGINNINGS OF SORROWS.

This is only one man's opinion but I think the world has already passed through THE BEGINNINGS OF SORROWS.  Why?   Because look at what comes next and ask yourself if we are not already there?  Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you (NOTE) Christians being martyred worldwide is on the steepest rise perhaps since the Roman Empire.   You will be hated for MY NAMES SAKE.  That is happening right now, right here in the good ole US of A.   And many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.  Kind of sounds like our Congress and Senate don't you think?  Or how about all those "leakers" spilling national secrets and NO ONE is doing anything about it?  Or, seems to care.  So much for the Red, White and Blue!

And how about false prophets?  Rising up to deceive many?  There is some downright bad gospel being taught on T.V. these days (although there are some good pastors teaching in that venue as well).

And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.  We are there at this minute folks.  No question about it.  But then Jesus mercifully gives us some hope in verse 13.  "But he (or she) who endures to the end will be saved".  Then comes the coup de grace,  "And this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to the nations, and then the end will come".  To clarify, the coup de grace part is directed toward a sinful world who will learn the hard way when the end finally does come.

The gospel being preached in all the world?  THAT is happening right now.  Between the internet, satellite information, T.V. and radio not to mention very many blogs like mine, the Lord is literately sending out His word to the utter most parts of the world as we speak.  Then there are thousands upon thousands of missionaries working all over the planet and untold numbers of pastors, teachers and evangelists working constantly on the Great Commission.  Millions of Bibles printed and being distributed in just about (perhaps All) the languages of the world.  WE are seeing these things in our generation.  Things that no other generation in the history of the world has ever seen.

Folks if you remember what the world and particularly the US was like just 50 years ago, the verse in Daniel chapter 12:4 will now make perfect sense to you;  Daniel is told by a heavenly messenger to  "seal up the book (that he was given) until the time of the end":  MANY SHALL RUN TO AND FRO, AND KNOWLEDGE SHALL BE INCREASED.

Just 50 years ago it took days to fly around the earth.  Today satellites do so several times each day and I can travel from Los Angeles to Israel (on the exact opposite side of the planet), in one single day.  Did you know it is estimated that the sum of all human knowledge may be doubling every 12 months?  My wife's cell phone is an iPhone 5 and it has more computing power than BIG computers during the golden age of putting a man on the moon.  Her iPhone is now drastically out of date.  It is estimated that it may not be long before human knowledge doubles every 12 hours.

This is fulfilled Biblical prophecy.  Our brains today are not one whit more powerful or intelligent than was Daniels in the 6th century B.C.  But for some reason VAST knowledge is rapidly increasing.  Why?  Because the  Bible says it will happen in the end times exactly that way.

The Bible is a perfect document that really does have all the answers.  The prophecies contained therein are coming true daily.  In other articles I explain exactly what I mean but in the meanwhile, I for one intend to endure to the end.  How about you friends?

I surely do miss the old days but guess what friends?  We, you and I are blessed to see so much Biblical prophecy being fulfilled in our life times.  We are seeing things happening that prior generations only dreamt of.  I for one am looking back at pleasant memories but I am living for today.  doing everything I can to glorify my Lord.  How about you?

I want to leave you with a thought today.  Before I do please know that what I am about to say is only a suggestion to think about.  The question is whether or not we may actually be living in the "end times"?  NO date setting here!!!

Are we possibly in the zone?

Remember that Before the flood of Noah, Methuselah lived for 969 years.  Noah himself lived 950 years which included 350 years after the flood.  But in Genesis 6:3 God set the lifespans of future generations of man at 120 years.  That change in Psalm 90:10 in which God said "The days of our lives are 70 years:  And if by reason of strength they are 80 years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.  Fly away?  Hmmmm.

Obviously some men and women can live longer than 70 years (I have myself) but that is the average set by God and nothing in God's word changed that anywhere after Psalm 90:10.

Consider the following;  ONLY for the purpose of determining whether or not mankind may be "in the zone" to see the end times;

In Matthew chapter 24 verses 32-35 Jesus is speaking about the end times.  He speaks about the fig tree (which many consider to be Israel in this context).  If Israel becoming a nation once again really is the "branch becoming tender and putting forth leaves, you know that summer is near---So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near---at the doors"!  "ASSUREDLY, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till ALL THESE THINGS TAKE PLACE".  Of course verse 36 says clearly that of that day and hour no one knows. That means for sure that no one knows so lets keep that straight!

So is there any Biblical evidence that Israel is EVER referred to as the fig tree?  Hosea 9:10 "I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness;  I saw your fathers as the FIRST FRUITS ON THE FIG TREE IN IT'S FIRST SEASON".   There is also mention in Joel 1:7 if you understand the context.

Israel became a nation once again on May 14, 1948.  Add 70 years to 1948 and what do you come up with?  If your calculator is the same as mine you should have come up with the year 2018.  However we may have to add another 10 years to that according to Psalm 90:10  "If by reason  of strength".

Woe now: CAUTION!!! No predictions here in the slightest way.  The Lord could tarry another 100 years if He so chose to do so but I for one don't think so based upon Biblical prophecy.  I am only demonstrating the possibility that we could really be in the zone.  And it should be noted that there are probably a gazillion scholars who would disagree with me.  In reality I cannot know for certain myself so let's not have any rush of little theological footies to throw me in a pit and stone me to death.  This information is merely meant for two reasons;  1).  Interesting coffee klatch fodder.  2).  If there is any validity here at all it should make us all sit up and know that we need to get busy and accomplish the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).

Bottom line, this is a dangerous idea to put on paper.  On the other hand truth usually is dangerous to lot's of folks. I am fully aware of that so please just keep it in the context of my intentions and then you decide for yourselves.  One way or another, I do believe we are in the end times and my generation could see some fascinating things happening in the future.

God bless,
Pastor Rance.

Encouragement for the downtrodden

Dear friends and readers,

Peace and grace to you in the great name of Jesus Christ.

What an awesome God we serve.  I am at once reminded of who exactly He is and what He has done for me.  How about you?  No?  Well, yes of course but really haven't thought about it all that much lately?

Well, for us mere humans, it is not a perfect world is it?  Lot's of folks are feeling that way and more.

Are you discouraged  with your life in general or perhaps even your ministry?  Not growing as fast as you would like or even watching it in the process of decline?  Feeling helpless about that?  Having family problems?  Can't seem to balance family, work, ministry and all the other issues of life?  Children seem to be wondering from the Lord?  Are you and your spouse drifting slowly apart?  Even worse, gone through that nasty divorce and now find yourself raising your children as a working single mother/father?  Asking yourself;  What in the world happened to my dreams of a perfect life?

Can't seem to find a church within which you fit?  Nothing in common with those other folks?

All of these and more, are common problems facing many Christians today.  Maybe it's the fast pace of society today.  Maybe it is just coming to the realization that you are sincerely tired out.  Well, me too some times.  Just yesterday my wife was telling me that she was just "OFF", you know one of the days when the you are over here but the rest of the world is over there.  Just can't connect and feeling out of it.

Pastors deal with these problems constantly.  And we are supposed to have all the answers but the truth is we don't.  But what we do have is far more valuable than infinite intelligence.  Of course the Bible tells us that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding"  (Proverbs 9:10).  As a pastor, the number one tool I have in ministry is in fact the fear of the Lord!  One other actually.  It helped a lot in my early ministry years when I realized two other things;  First, I don't have to have all the answers because I know someone who does.  Second, my ministry is not MY ministry.  It is His ministry and rise or fall it is my Lord's to do with as He pleases.  When my lightening swift mind finally grasped those basic concepts, you would be surprised how much of a load it took from my shoulders.

So why are so many people bothered by so many things?  Why is stress such an incredible killer of both body and soul?  By soul here I am really referring to that deep seated discouragement that we all feel at times.  Maybe there is an answer.

I know that many Pastors have a tendency to "ONLY" teach about an all loving God who made the ultimate sacrifice for us, every word of which is true.  But it is not a complete story.  Then there are those who teach a full plate of hells fire and brimstone.  Not a complete story either.  To fully understand God we also need to know that there are certain heavenly lines in the sand that cannot be crossed.  If what you are hearing is only a "feel good gospel", when the hard times comes---which they will, you will be ill prepared to deal with any of the problems that I listed at the top of this article.  On the other hand if the gospel you are hearing leaves you drained with no hope that you can ever measure up?  No, not a balanced approach to the intent of the Gospel.  No one should have to "slink" out of church feeling like a failure.

The answer to both of those issues is to read and study the Bible for yourselves.  Yes, honor your pastors, support your churches, stay in fellowship.  But it is every Christians responsibility to check whatever you are reading or hearing with what the Bible actually says.  By the way, I have told my own congregations that very thing for years including their responsibility to hold me accountable to teach only the Bible.  Of course sometimes a story to illustrate a Biblical point is called for.  After all Jesus did that Himself.  BUT and it is a very large BUT!!!  We should be teaching what the Bible says not what it does not say.  That is the only true course to Biblical wisdom and growth spiritually. And it is the only way we can truly be prepared to navigate the mine fields that life can often present.

Sometimes in life, as Christians walking through a very troubled world, we need to take a giant step back and remember exactly what it was that brought us to faith in the first place.  Of course that played out differently for each and everyone of us.  But lets take a walk together and see where it takes us.  I think it fair to say that in some form, all of us placed our initial faith in Jesus because something was happening in our lives that brought us to the point where we realized we were missing something important.  Sometimes described as " a hole" that nothing seemed capable of filling.  Then for one reason or another the light came on.  That special day arrived when we did come to the knowledge that someone much bigger, much more powerful, much smarter and much more special than we could ever imagine---was really there! Really available and further more really really loved us in ways we knew for certain but simply could not explain.  Ah yes, the day we surrendered, the day of our salvation.

Most folks remember that day well.  But as time goes by that special memory can fade.  Someone from church really hurt you and you dropped out.  Not willing to try again because you don't want to get hurt again?  Deep down inside you know that the pain was not caused by God but your not so certain anymore about those "other people who say they are Christians"?  So now you are a believer but one with no fellowship.  No big deal right?  You can make it on your own.  After all, it's your basic faith that counts, right?  Oh yes I have heard that many times.  Well, how is that working out for you?

Or, for some the emphasis on learning the Word of God that was so important for you at the beginning has somehow been over taken by the cares of life.  Reading the word of God has kind of slidden off your plate.  Or church has now become something you do when you have a break from all the other important things that are eating up your time.

The reason I called this blog "BACK TO LIFE BASICS" is because it is intended to remind us all that sometimes we need to slow down and regroup.  Ask ourselves some really very important questions and sincerely face the realities of our honest answers.

My wife and I are in ministry and we constantly find that we are "sucked up" in the vacuum of business as usual.  We have to take that giant step back ourselves and regroup around the things that are really important.  We have to RE-prioritize our lives.  Frequently.  We have to get back to basics.

First on that list is our own personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ, each of us individually.  Then as a married couple.  Sitting quietly and talking about the word and what we have learned.  Sharing about the Lord, about our Eternal destiny, imagining the glories that await us one day in heaven.  Praying for each other and together.  For our selves, our family, our friends and for Israel.  For problems in the world, for our governmental leaders and a myriad of other things than come across our plates.

Then comes our family.  Nothing and I mean absolutely nothing can be allowed to come between us as husband and wife.  Nothing can interfere with our private family life and nurturing our relationship with each other and our son.  Our home is our sanctuary of peace and we do not allow that peace to be shattered.  As a pastor, when called upon for counseling I do not do so from my home.  I go out to the people concerned, do as the Lord has called me to do but when I have accomplished  that I go home to the quiet, peaceful atmosphere that we jealousy nurture.  I sincerely believe that is one of the main reasons that I can still function effectively after 33 years of ministry.  By keeping my priorities straight.

Then and only then comes job, career, ministry, or whatever it is that people do outside their homes.  That includes church participation.  Does that shock you that a pastor would recommend always putting family ahead of church?  Well I have news for you friends, if your marriage fails, if your family fails, then everything you do has failed.  Church is extremely important but on the other hand I can tell you about people so involved with church events that husbands and wives seldom have quiet quality time together.  That is a marriage in trouble.  And it all goes back to the very same issue.  Keeping our priorities straight.

So here is the list by priority;  1).  Personal relationship with your Lord. That means personal prayer time and reading His Word.  2).  Family, wife and husband and children living and loving one another in a real home environment---sharing meals together, turing off the devices and talking to each other. In other words, not just occupying a house with people surviving under the same roof.

3).  Church. If you have been hurt or disillusioned, take a step back and remember that people are not perfect but you are going to church for the Lord and His word and for Christian fellowship.  Find another church but don't give up.  Christian fellowship is important and there are multitudes of great pastors and friendly churches out there.

Don't confuse "megachurch" with fellowship.  I have nothing against big churches.  But ask yourself a question?  Do you actually know your pastor or do you just see him behind the pulpit once each week?  Can you make an appointment with Him for personal counsel when needed?  If not choose a smaller intimate fellowship where you actually know your pastor and his wife and his children and the elders and deacons and most importantly, the person sitting next to you as you worship.

 Be sure the church you attend teaches the Word of God, not denominational doctrine.  If you are home bound because of health or age issues, have your Bible open on your lap as you watch T.V. church.  There are some really good, Biblically sound teachers on the television but there are also some real charlatans and hucksters.   If you can't confirm what you are hearing in your Bible, change channels.  If it's all about wealth and prosperity, change channels.  If the message is peppered with one big "begathon" for money don't waste your time.  Pray for the right teacher and the Lord will guide you.

.4). Job or career;  Do what you do as well as you possibly can but never ever to the exclusion of your family.

So here are some tips for you;  You are what you are at this point in your life.  You cannot change the past.  Yesterdays mistakes are history.  Married, single, with children or without. In debt, out of debt, interesting hobby, no hobby.  Good job, no job, full time, part time. It is what it is.  Not that it cannot be improved over time so look at the areas that you do have some modicum of control over.  Sit down and have an honest self evaluation with yourself and your spouse.  What things are you doing that really do not have to occupy your time?  Be brutal.  Cut them.  Reboot, make time to spend with the Lord.  Make time for each other.

Do you know what I have witnessed for years and years?  Including in ministry families.  People become so busy with life that they no longer live life to it's fullest.

Now lets talk about marriage:  Husbands and wives, treat each other like your partner in marriage is only on loan to you, which by the way they really are.  So are your children.  My wife and I adopted a severely handicapped little boy.  We know full well that God has entrusted HIS SON to us and only for a short time on this earth.

Remember that neither one of you really needs to be right.  Neither of you has to have the last say.  It is perfectly ok to agree that it is ok to disagree.  When push comes to shove in your marriage, table the issue.  In most cases it's not an emergency so let it alone for awhile.  When you are mad, don't make any decisions for at least 24 hours.  Chill out already!

BIG PROBLEM;   Spend quality time with each other and with your children.  If you don't, when the kids leave home, you have lost them.  If you did not take time with them while they were growing up, they will not have time for you when you are growing old.

Problems should meld husbands and wives closer together not drive them apart.  Don't find fault.  If one of you makes a mistake that causes problems, work through it together.  If you do not spend quality time together as a couple, when the kids are grown and gone, you will wake up one morning and realize the person sitting across from you at the breakfast table is a stranger.  That is the very definition of a "mid life crisis".   And the main reason so many empty nesters go down the road to divorce.  So ask yourself a question.  Do you really want to start over again in your 40's or 50's?  If the answer to that is no?  Then take a long look at your life and do something about it before it's too late.  In most cases it only takes one of you to reignite that flame of romance and best friendship that once brought you together.  Go the extra mile for the one you are sharing life with or plan on traveling alone all the rest of the miles that are left to you.

Nothing in this life is simple or easy.  Problems come up.  Cancer happens. We loose loved ones, children often stray. Family problems and arguments are not uncommon for any married couple.  Finances often go astray.  Things are seldom "fair" in this world.  But, if you are a Christian reading this article, perhaps it would be good to remember that no human relationship is perfect.  There is no such thing as the perfect husband or wife.  What makes a loved one perfect for each of us is keeping  the Lord at the very center of our marriages.

I will close with a word of advice;

Wives, when was the last time you dressed up and put your make up on just for your husband?

Husbands, when was the last time you brought your wife flowers---just because?  Oh and by the way, Got that big beer belly?  Bet you didn't when you were courting your wife.

Wives and husbands when was the last time you were at odds but just decided to say "yes honey"?

Wives, when was the last time you cooked him his favorite meal even though it may be a bit on the fattening side?

Husbands, have you ever really realized that being the head of your household is not a Devine right?  It is something that must be earned and deserved.  It must be freely given by your wife out of respect for you and your decision making abilities.

Folks if you are having problems, turn to your Lord for the answers.  Draw closer together and don't allow the slightest bit of light to come between you and your spouse.  Change that counts is only one decision away.

God bless you all,
Pastor Rance.