Change is in the Air!

Well, congratulations America!  We have a new president elect, Donald J. Trump.  Mr. Trump continued his unconventional ability to defy the odds by surprising the pollsters, the main stream media and the political establishment with an early lead as the polls on the East Coast began to close and just kept building his lead as the evening wore on.

My wife and I kept an eye on the proceedings at Fox’s Election Central throughout the evening and noticed subtle changes with the men and women reporting the night’s events.  Their emotions went from sticking to the pre-vote polls predictions, to questioning, to slight confusion as they began to admit that “he might actually take this thing,” to smiles of amazement as it began to look more certain around midnight when I finally turned off the TV in our bedroom!

When I got up at 2:30 AM a few hours later to give my wife one of her medications, I took a look at the alerts that had been accumulating on my phone and was reading them as the official call of the win by Mr. Trump was posted.  I am not sure if it all really sank in at that time since I was literally half awake while sitting in the dark on the edge of my bed.  But I as I sat there I recalled the “feeling” that I had inside of me back after the first few primary debates held months ago.

At that time I had actually been leaning toward another couple of Republican candidates, but found myself being drawn to Mr. Trump in spite of his outspoken mannerisms and bluntness!  The “feeling” came up from deep inside me and as I had told my wife, “You know, I don’t understand it but I just feel that for some reason, God has something special that He wants to do through this man.”

So I guess it was through the filter of that “feeling” from which I interpreted the rest of the campaign activities including the negativity, accusations and sometimes hasty words that he uttered as well as the positive acclamations and positive changes that I began to realize he could bring to the office of the Presidency of the United States.  I also understand that the President has to work with and through a wide array of experienced advisors, Congress, the Supreme Court and many other checks and balances before major decisions can be made (although I think that our current administration has deviated from that process to pass their agenda…).

So, yes, I am excited to see what the special things that Papa God has planned to work through the new administration beginning next year.  It seems pretty clear that even though most of the news media and the establishment politicians in both parties refused to accept it, the people of this great country of ours have spoken!  Change is in the air!  You gotta love it, don’t you?

And speaking of change… I was greatly encouraged as I was speaking the Word of God found in Mark 16:20 over Piper earlier this morning.  When I got to the part that declares the truth that “the Lord (is) working with and confirming the word with signs following” Piper clearly and rather loudly annunciated an excited “Ah Ha!” following God’s promise that He is “working with…”  It was such a natural and commonly stated past exclamation of agreement from her that I had to stop and say “Yes!  Your right, He is!” and start praising the Lord, right there in the dining room!

You have to realize that she really hasn’t said much of anything that is understandable for many months, and this outburst clearly signaled to me that she is still hearing and comprehending God’s Word and activity putting her faith to work whenever she can!

Mark 16:17 explains the workings of this part of scripture to us as Jesus plainly stated to the eleven disciples that miraculous “signs shall follow them that believe…” (KJV)  Every time I read that verse I subconsciously stop and ask myself: “follow who?” and then answer by reciting the next part of the phrase: “them that believe!”

The word “believe” as used in this statement is a verb and according to Dictionary.com “A verb is used to describe an action, it typically expresses action, state or a relation between two things.”  In this case those “2 things” would be the Christian and God and His Word.  So in order to believe, it takes an action from the believer based on their expectations of God working the promises in His Word, out of His love for them! (through Jesus’ finished work of the cross)

In other words, it is not just a head or intellectual knowledge of God and His Word but an intimate, experience based knowing of Him and His ability to do what He says He will do in His Word!  Piper’s perfectly timed comment this morning flooded my heart with thanksgiving to our heavenly Father for how much He loves my wife and I.  It is my hope today that a similar hope flowing from each of you for Papa God is also alive and very much active in your hearts and your lives today!

Change is in the air for our great country and for each of you through the Word of God today!  Never give in, and never give up in your active believing in the miraculous signs and wonders accompanying His Word that you stand on today!

Pray the Word for our new President as he shifts gears and begins to prepare himself to sit in the chair at the desk in the Oval Office.  Our prayers will help to give God the tools He can use to do His special work through the new administration.  And pray the Word over your own life so that Mark 16:20 can and will become an active part of your daily activities!

Have a great rest of the week, and as you do keep asking yourself… “Am I actively believing and thereby expecting God’s Word to be working for me today?”

Voting for "The Right Vision"

I came across a picture of my wife taken at our campsite at Plumas Eureka State Park in the summer of 2005 when we celebrating our 30^th wedding anniversary.  At first I thought that it might not be the most complimentary photo of her taken as she was frying taco shells on the camp stove.  But the more I looked at the casual pose, the more I could see the real girl that captured and has kept my heart for the last 46 years.  

Yea… she may not have makeup on (except for lipstick – she would NEVER go anywhere without it!) but that Zoë – absolute fullness of the God-kind of life – light is shining brightly through her eyes, she has that Piper-patented “just guess what I am about to do” smile on her face, and the “peace that surpasses all understanding” aurora radiating from her very presence as she goes about the task at hand!

So with all of that in mind and the large smile that it forced upon my face, I clicked a few keys on my laptop and made the picture my background screen saver.  Now I have another vision of what we are expecting to see as a result of our stand of faith on the redemptive revelation of God’s Word concerning His view on her healing.

I mentioned to Piper at breakfast this morning that she and I have always been “vision casters!”  I think that is one of the main reasons that it was so easy for me to talk with her when we started dating during those first few weeks of our Senior High year back in 1970.  We were and still are dreamers… but not just as those hopelessly lost in “La-La Land” as a relative once said to me, but as Believers who took Papa God at His Word, caught His visions for our lives and after investigating the possibilities, stepped out in faith.

I can look back today and see example after example of visions that we cast over the years.  I guess it is just a part of who Piper and I are!  We’ve cast visions to our kids, to the students throughout our active ministry years and to our families and friends.  Like I’ve said before… I think I enjoy the creating, planning, practicing and the preparations for the various ministry programs we’ve done over the years just as much as the actual presentation of it!

One thing I noticed early on in the Presidential Campaign in our country that is soon coming to its conclusion was the difference between the platforms that the two main characters in this play were presenting.  While one long time politician was presenting the usual political rhetoric, the other candidate, a political outsider, was taking a different approach.

I remember the day it hit me, and I turned to my wife and declared of Donald Trump, “He’s casting a vision!”  He was painting a picture of something new, of something becoming stronger and better of which its citizens could become proud of again!  While the other spoke of the merits of the status quo, Mr. Trump has been building excitement across the nation, connecting with the common folks by painting a positive vision of change, success and of hope.

He reminded me of the senior Pastor of our home church who once explained his role at the 8000+ member church, Bible College and the world wide ministry associated with it as “the overseer and one who cast the vision for the ministry.”  He said that he came up with the ideas and then had a talented staff to work out the details of those ideas (under his tutelage and guidance).  

That’s why Mr. Trump may not always have had a lot of details concerning some of the new programs he announced in the early stages of the campaign.  (He actually has said on many occasions that he will bring in the best minds in the various areas of expertise to help him develop the plans – which have been taking shape and shared with the country over the last few months)

In many ways he is a lot like my wife and I in respect to casting visions of the various projects we believe the Lord set before us over the years.  I love the way the Amplified Version expresses Proverbs 29:18 saying: “Where there is no vision – no redemptive revelation of God – the people perish…”  Like I mentioned in a previous post, we have always been driven to put feet to our faith and it is that “redemptive revelation of God” in His Word that has empowered us to step out and keep going even when persecution came against us.

Without that vision of how Scofield described the Biblical term “salvation” as being all the redemptive processes of God (ie; salvation of our souls, healing, deliverance, financial needs abundantly met, strength, courage etc.) we would never have had anything to stand on and would have fallen down on our faces at the first obstacle or roadblock that got in our way!

So from a Christian standpoint, when I talk of vision, I am talking about the vision that Papa God casts to each of us in the truth of His Word!  It is the vision that He desires for us to continually set our eyes upon.  I have a choice each morning when I get up to either go with the worldly vision of the disease I see attacking my wife and the hopeless case it sets for her future, or to see and actively believe the vision of God’s healing that He gives us throughout His Word!  

Which would you go for?  Kind of a “no brainer” right!  I’d rather go with the truth of God’s own words and be confident in His best rather than the failure and dead end possibilities presented by medical science!  What do you think?  What vision do you seek?  

So as far as casting your vote on this Election Day here in the USA, do you want to keep seeing the status quo?  Do you want to keep living by the lowly standards that you continue to see right in front of you or do you desire another view of positive change?  

For me the bottom line is voting for the candidate and party that best supports the Godly vision of His Word... and that choice is pretty clear!  The Good News Bible’s translation of Proverbs 29:18 supports this direction by stating: “A nation without God’s guidance is a nation without order.  Happy are those who keep God’s law (or under the New Covenant we would say God’s Word!).”

I choose daily to vote for the Word and look toward God’s vision in everything I do.  How about you?  Have a great day, go out and vote and as you do, keep asking yourself… “Whose vision am I expecting to see… and live by today?”  Remember your vote TODAY can establish your expectations for our county’s future.

Stay on Message!

I thought it was funny the other night as we were watching a news clip of Donald Trump making a recent speech.  In the segment he was joking with the audience and telling himself repeatedly that he needed to “stay on message” or “stay on point.”  If you’ve followed any of his campaign over the last year you know that he loves to go off script and ad lib.  Many times the satirical comments he’s uttered while off script have been made to look like offensive jabs or taken out of context and used against him.  It is amazing to me how someone can pick and choose comments said in jest or in line with a greater context of information and create and advertise a false image of another individual.

I was reading an article from CNN just this morning that pointed out that Mr. Trump has been successfully “staying on message” for the last couple of weeks and has refused to take the bait that his competition is desperately trying to put out in an attempt to plug the overflow of harmful information that seems to be coming out against her on a daily basis as of late.

It dawned on me when I thought about this, that this is a similar lesson for all of us Christians to learn!  The idea of “staying on message” should be the goal of every son and daughter of God.  I’ve been shocked to learn this lesson the hard way over the last few years!  In the initial time after we finally received an accurate diagnosis of what was happening to my wife, we seemed to have our new and growing stand of faith for her healing attacked from almost every front!

For a while there it seemed like things I said were being misconstrued, added to and then misrepresented by some folks very close to home!  I also learned very quickly that the enemy of our souls will use any trick in the book to steal whatever faith you are working to develop… in an attempt to get you to go “off message.”

As I look back now, it is easy for me to burst into laughter when I think about some of the over-obvious antics he used against us, some of the ill-timed and insensitive comments that were made and how many things said were clearly based on incorrect information.  The clip of Mr. Trump’s speech and his need to “stay on message” caused a bit of that laughter yesterday and I turned to my wife and chuckled that “God sure must have a great sense of humor!”

I must admit though, at the time of these events I wasn’t laughing… but I was aware of how unusual these attacks were.  Like the time I emotionally shared the information I received from the first heart to heart discussion with Piper’s new brain specialist in San Francisco concerning the natural timeline of events for the disease affecting Piper.  In an almost immediate response, the close relative of Piper's that I shakily shared this with replied, “Well, do you know how you are going to support yourself after Piper’s gone? (at the time Piper was receiving SSI benefits and I was being paid through a county program to care for her)

Today I can’t help but laugh at the absurdity of that comment… but back at that time… well, let’s just say that I had a number of feelings… and most of them weren’t too positive!

When I finally came to my senses about that and other such comments, I began to realize how serious the enemy of our souls was fighting against us and our faith.  And although I didn’t know the term like I do today, I quickly realized that it was of the utmost importance for Piper and I to stay focused on our faith and to do whatever we needed (and still do) to stay on the message found in the truth of God’s Word concerning His timeline and plan for Piper’s health, instead of allowing ourselves to take the bait and go “off message” and find ourselves in trouble, wallowing around in doubt and unbelief!

Romans 1:16 in The Message Bible calls it the “extraordinary Message of God’s powerful plan…”  Later on in his writings found in I Corinthians 9:23, Paul declares that he did all he did to lead people to Christ and teach then about the kingdom of God “…because of the Message.  I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!” (Message Bible)

I think that statement sums it all up perfectly!  As believers we should stay alert and do all that we have to do to “stay on message” so that we aren’t just talking a bunch of empty words, but are actively participating and reaping the rewards of His Message!

If you haven’t learned it by now… you soon will come to understand that the Deceiver is out there and he is gunning for your faith, just looking for opportunities to get you distracted and go “off message”… away from Papa God’s message, away from His will for your life!

So what will it be for you?  How hard is it for you to “stay on message” and not be distracted by others actions of doubt, unbelief or unfamiliarity with the promises of God’s Word.  I’ve come to learn in the midst of the battle we are endeavoring to win, that I have a responsibility to “stay on point” with the vision of God’s message.  It is important  that I fight to keep it strong, active and ever present before Piper and I if we plan to finish the race that we were called to run in this life!  Proverbs 29:18 tells us that “Where there is no vision, the people perish…” and I for one plan to not have anyone in my family lose the race before they get to the finish line!

…And speaking of finish lines… If you’re in America, please make a point to go out and vote this coming Tuesday, November 8^th.  I truly believe that this is one of the most important presidential campaigns we’ve had in years.  If you’re not happy with either of the candidates, then as a Christian, I would encourage you to check out each of the 2 party’s platforms and vote for the one that supports our Bible based beliefs.

Have a great weekend, and as you do, keep asking yourself… “Am I expecting to ‘stay on message” today?

What Happens if THEY get into Office?

Earlier this summer I noticed some moss growing on the sides of the house in the back and the northeast facing side.  My immediate thought brought me back to my childhood when I remembered my Dad grabbing a bucket and cloth and physically washing down the sides of our house each summer.  Now that house was a lot bigger than our current abode, so I figured that I could do the same and added it to my “To Do List” of summer activities.  But as the summer went on it seemed to slip lower and lower in priority.  

Then I had the revelation that I could simply rent a power washer and do it faster and most likely much easier!  Well, summer came and went and the moss on the house looked like it had greatly multiplied since my first observations of it!  All of a sudden it seemed as though it was the only thing I saw when I looked at the house.  

And when I thought I could stand it no more, I went online to get some ideas of what it would cost to have someone come out and do it for me.  I let a few more days pass and then I finally gave in on Friday evening and went online to Home Advisor, filled out a quick form expecting to get some calls on Monday... but boy, was I surprised!  Within five minutes (NO KIDDING) I received three calls from qualified businesses.

So to make a long story short, I set up an appointment for yesterday and the young man came, sprayed down the house and it looks like I just got the house painted… and the funny thing is that it cost hardly anything to have it professionally cleaned!  Why did I wait so long?

I thought about that example this morning as I reviewed some of my Bible study notes from this last weekend. I had been thinking about the presidential race that has been the scourge of the headlines for the past year or so and was beginning to get heavily concerned about the real possibility that we could actually get an individual into office who seems to be anti-most of the ideals that my family and I adhere to as the foundation of our Christian faith. 

But then… then, I read God’s eternal promise to His children on this earth and suddenly all those mis-guided concerns seemed to melt away in that “peace of God that passeth all understanding.” (Philippians 4:7 KJV)  Early Sunday morning I felt led to read from the first chapter of the gospel of John and found myself concentrating on verses four and five where the Apostle of love explains what I would consider to be the final word on the subject saying: “Jesus was (and is) the source of life, and that life is the light for humanity.  That light shines in the dark and the dark has never (nor will ever be able to) extinguish it.” (God’s Word ©)

The Amplified Version of verse five further defines that thought by expanding the idea with the added descriptions “… and the light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never over powered it (put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it.)” 

When I read that, it was as if the Lord spoke to me through His Word by telling me to expect unbelievers in this world to NOT understand the gospel message!  2 Corinthians 4:4 explains that “the god of this world has blinded the eyes of those who don’t believe.  As a result, they don’t see the light of the Good News about Christ’s glory.” (God’s Word ©)

So you know… No matter who wins this election, no matter who is in charge, we Christians do not have to be anxious because the bottom line is, that God’s Good News will NEVER be extinguished!  Sure there may be some tough times… but guess who gets the final word!

Therefore I’m choosing to be at peace, to not allow myself to get anxious by what I see happening around me… but to keep my expectations glued on the truth of Papa God and His Word of peace!  What do you think about that?  Are you going to keep looking at the problem and allow it to loom larger and larger in your eyes… like I did all summer with the moss on the sides of our house?  Or are you going to take God’s quick, easy and inexpensive solution?  I tell ya... you'll find yourself asking: "Why did I wait so long?"

Have a great week, and as you do keep asking yourself… “Who am I expecting to hold the keys to my peace today?”