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RECAP NEWSLETTER - 7/25/4 Issue 15 Many times in reading Scripture, we tend to think in terms of black and white. We divide the what we read into two categories: saved and unsaved. While this is generally true, there are many other divisions and qualifications. Just because there is a promise in the Bible does not mean it is 'claimable' by every Christian. The two categories, saved and unsaved, can be broken into several subcategories: hot saved (righteous), ungodly saved (cold), mediocre saved (lukewarm), while wicked can include everything from morally good unsaved people to vile unsaved people. Most of the time, promises in Scripture addressed to God's children are for those that are termed righteous. They are not the normal, average Christian who goes through life in a cold, indifferent attitude. Lukewarm Christians may qualify for a few more, but the vast majority of the promises in Scripture (especially Psalms) are for the children that serve Him in sincerity, fear, reverence, duty, love, and fervor. We need to keep these differences in mind as we read through the promises in the Bible. Failure to distinguish between them could make one conclude that God does not keep His promises. For example, Psalm 37:25 is David's testimony where he claims, "I have not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread." This is not a health and wealth prosperity promise, nor does it apply to everyone. Noah was found righteous, and Abraham entreated God to spare Sodom if there were righteous men in it. It is interesting that he knew Lot and his family lived there, and yet he did not entreat God for just one righteous person. Psalm 37:30-31 describes a righteous man. "The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide." I know many Christians that avoid the subject of persecution and deterioration in our country because they have a presumptuous attitude that God is bound to protect them regardless of their lifestyle and service. Psalm 37:39 reminds us, "But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him." Some examples of this principle is Paul and the Apostles. Yes, they went through hard times, persecutions, stonings, etc., but, God held them up during and through the trials. Daniel, when thrown in the lion's den, was spared because he served God. Christians persecuted during the Roman persecutions, slain in the stadiums, and torn assunder, did have the witness that God was with them. What about the lukewarm Christians? Demas forsook the ministry, loving the pleasures of the world (2 Timothy 4:10). When tough times came, he bailed out. Peter, too, forsook Christ and went back to fishing before he came back and got zealous for Christ. Before, he may have been lukewarm and served Christ when it was convenient, but when hard times came, he denied Him and left. Only instruction and time with Christ prepared him for the ministry he was to complete in the future. What about us? Do we only serve Christ because it is convenient? When hard times and possible persecution come, where will we stand? Will it take the cock crowing three times to make us realize what we have done? Or are we like Daniel, purposed ahead of time, that we will serve Christ no matter what? Are we so intent on serving Christ that we count everything in this world as a loss for Him? Or are we like Demas, always watching the world instead of Christ?
MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS I'VE FOUND "Is your mind filled with what does not matter to God?" "God care more about what you are, than where you are."
"Daniel's enemies did not know his weaknesses; but they knew his
strengths.
ADDED RESOURCES
CURRENT EVENT RECAP (All of the news referenced comes from articles that we have posted during the past week.) This week had some interesting news items that revolved around the idea of what informedchristians.com calls Prudent Living (or lack thereof). Just today there was a story about how Britain was getting ready to send a preparedness booklet to every household in the country. Australia has done something similar as well. In America, we have ready.gov, etc.; but, in general, people are not actively told what to do and stressed that they need to take steps one, two, and three to make sure they are ready. The major of 'terror' threats are very broad, with vague instructions for US citizens to follow. Be attentive, be on the lookout, etc. What will happen if the vast majority of people in America are not properly prepared for large-scale disasters, and then find themselves in the middle of one? Number one, the desperation for resources will be greater. After prolonged chaos, people will panic and most likely take desperate actions. Just this week, we saw that Israel is taking preventative steps to give potassium iodate to the areas around their two nuclear power plants in case of an attack. They had also furnished a large number of gas masks during the threat of 'retaliation' from Saddam. The actions from Britain, Australia, Israel, etc. are preventative measures. How come the majority of the actions in the US are responsive measures? Yes, we need to respond properly, but "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Just this week, Bush signed a $5.6 billion dollar bill to bolster defense in areas of biological, chemical, and nuclear terrorism. In a way that is good, because the average citizen certainly doesn't know, or is prepared, to respond to those types of situations - even though it is possible to a degree. The number of casualties, injure, and loss will not come mainly from initial disasters or attacks, but from secondary ripple effects. Just this week, in Kenya, it was reported that certain areas are resorting to eating wild roots because of extreme drought conditions combined with bureaucratic bungling. The articles stated that nearly a million people were severely food-insecure. That is a lot of people to have in such a dangerous situation as famine. It may seem desperate to us here in America, but at least a number of those people know how and where to get additional food (roots and foraging) if regular supplies falter. Prudent Living is not just stockpiling for an emergency; it is increasing your skills, tools, knowledge, and ability to handle various extreme situations. In religious news, the movie "The Passion" is now out on DVD, and churches are thronging to purchase it in bulk. I am pretty sure the sale of the videos may surpass theater sales because a number of people would not go to a theater, and now they can also buy it in bulk for those who did not see it (like us). Perhaps the Lord planned it this way, but just this week came out the survey research about the effects of the Passion. We talked about this in length in the last RECAP (7/18/4). One of the most alarming news items this week was the research stating that by the end of this year, Protestants will make up less than 50% of our country - and that is including (incorrectly) the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the results. It is alarming that even adding the cult to that sum barely topped 50%! Roman Catholics still have remained steady, making up about 25 percent of the U.S. population. The same-sex marriage bill, and similar moral-related legislation will continue to be compromised and defeated because the salt is losing its savor. In the efforts of political correctness, the church has willingly become negligent - not only of their flock, but also of their country. In exchange for government handouts (tax breaks) so they can fleece their flocks to finance worthless building programs and social clubs, the watchman is no longer watching, but playing night after night on the church basketball team, and the light is no longer keeping darkness at bay, but singing fuzzy, shallow little ditties that make them think they are serving and pleasing God. The salt no longer holds back corruption, but revels in it and brings it into the church. Very soon that salt may be trodden down. The saddest note is that the world knows it, too. Just this week there was the blatant and deliberate exchange of homosexual 'vows' by fifty couples right near what most see as the heart of conservative Christianity, Focus on the Family headquarters in Colorado. They know the churches are tying their own hands behind themselves, and placing the duct tape over their own mouths in order to please men rather than God. I guarantee you that in the next months we will see a noticeable increase in flaunted perversion and depravity. The light bulbs of most Christians are so dim that they cannot discern that their 'Christian' leaders practice double standards. Last week we saw the real Bush and Cheney, and this week we saw Mrs. Cheney again. Her double standards are so obvious that in a recent speech she could not even talk about the homosexual issue because her own daughter is gay, and they are OK with that lifestyle! But, she somehow feels qualified to speak on abortion! A little study will also show you where the Bush's personal convictions are on that matter as well. In previous RECAPs, we discussed the emerging World Court. Our world is rapidly congealing into a global form. With the WC and the EU basically stating that they will get involved in Israel's internal affairs regardless of whether they like it or not, and the UN and the US pressuring Sudan on their internal conflict, how long before the EU or UN pressures the US? In what areas, you say? The UN Rights of the Child, capital punishment, immigration, and probably Taiwan. Besides the fact that our National Guard is now preparing for the largest mobilization since WWII, with some states bereft of 80% of their NG forces on active duty, 14% drop in recruits, Rumsfeld now stating that more troops may be necessary, with coalition armies pulling out, and new recruits are being called up sooner, I would not be surprised if we have to bow out of a long-term commitment with Taiwan. Sure, we may be able to have short-term naval/airforce assistance in the region, but ground forces are almost out the the question. Already so many National Guard have been called up that governors are complaining that they are having difficulty handling wildfires and other disasters! I really hate to say it, but we are getting pretty ripe for invasion or coup ourselves if our *National* Guard is mostly gone. Already China has warned our Pacific Fleet Commander to stop military exchanges with Taiwan given the 'seriousness' of the situation. Be prepared for possible threats/blackmail in the near future. Taiwan and China are definitely coming to a tense standoff. Finally, in conclusion, other countries around the world are taking the lead from the West, and pursuing same-sex recognition, abortion, etc. Ireland is now pursuing using babies to medical ends, Iran has just approved limited abortion as a gesture to the outside world, and Canada is now pondering legislation that may give blanket same-sex recognition across territories. We have looked frankly at the state of the world and our nation today. Wars and rumors of war are the major headlines. The days of Lot and Noah aptly describe our nation and world. So this should make us think - are we a Demas, who loving the present world, forsook the ministry? Or do we live for our Redemption that draweth nigh?
REMINDERS & PRAYER REQUESTS
May God richly bless,
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