Recently there have been many reports on the traditional media outlets and on social media about politics, specifically the Presidency of the United States.

(Now, all my friends know that I am a Christian and my belief colors everything I see, as does yours. So, take it or leave it, but here I go.)

The office of the President deserves all the Respect we can muster. It does not matter whether we voted for the person in that office or not. The Office of the President and the individual who holds that office need be neither white or black, male or female, Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative, the President should however be an American (by law) who supports and defends the Constitution of the United States (as per the Oath) including all the Rights (Bill of Rights) and Amendments to said document. The President should respect the rule of law and the separation of power which is designed to protect us from becoming a dictatorship. And while we cannot expect that every President will be a Christian (because not every American is either) The President is a representative of the people and therefore the President should represent all rights equally. The President is not the representative of industrial unions, lobbyist or special interest, except as far as they represent individuals. The problem with much of media is that we listen to it and believe it. Secondly, on social media as in the main stream media we will often only hear one side. The Liberal, Conservative and Independent will only listen, "like" or share what agrees with a very narrow view of the world and when someone does not agree with their narrow view that person is mocked. It is interesting that we have forgotten how to have honest debate as a means to the truth, instead we only believe what our favorite media outlet reports and we call that truth. We all have friends and relatives who only post one side and are unwilling to even listen to another point of view. Moreover, if you listen to them and still do not agree with their view that somehow makes you less intelligent.

As Christians we are encouraged by the Bible to “sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that ask you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15) The debate is not the issue, we should be willing and able to give an answer for the hope that is in us, moreover, we must understand that we cannot change someone’s heart (The is for God to do) but we certainly should be able to convince someone that we believe what we are saying and demonstrate that belief in our actions. As a Christian we should believe that the Bible is God’s Holy Word and therefore it is our guide as we vote. As we use any guide we must understand that we have an obligation to be an educated Voter and vote for the individual who best represents what we believe to be right, to vote in accordance with what is the best thing for the whole country not just our special interest. As Christians we are obligated to vote this way, to make the focus others, to do what is best for all not just our little corner of the world.

How can we possibly be sure that we are doing this, well let’s look at 1 Peter 3:15 again; “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that ask you, a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” We first do it by sanctifying the Lord God in our hearts. We are to worship, adore, respect and revere the Lord, not just verbally, but in our hearts. If you worship, adore and revere someone or something, that person or thing will often be a topic of conversation. To worship someone is to know the details about them. It is in these details that we find our defense, many Christians when asked why they do not witness will say, “I am afraid” or “I do not know enough”, why would that be if you worship, adore, revere the topic you are asked to testify of?

Secondly, we are to give this defense with “meekness and fear”. Meekness and fear here are to present our defense mildly, humbly understanding the seriousness of the event with a reverence for God that is due.

These attitudes, attitudes of worship, humility, seriousness are to be used even as we make decisions about who we are to vote for. An attitude of worship will motivate us to be sure of pleasing God, an attitude of humility will keep it from being about “us” and we certainly need to understand the seriousness of our vote.

The United States of America is the greatest country on earth. We must take the responsibility of voting very seriously, but take it seriously not because we are Americans, but because we are Christians. Moreover, let us show the respect due to all our elected officials, using our vote to put people into office who are worthy of that office.

Did you know that God wants to give you:

Knowledge of who He is

His Word

Belief

His Prayers

His Glory

His Protection

His Joy

His Holiness

A Mission

Unity with Christ

Perfection

A Home

Eternal Life

Love!

That is what He says, and that is in only one chapter of His Book! (John 17). God uses John 17 to speak to our Physical self, our Intellectual Concern and Spiritual Hope. If you desire to know more, read John 17 post any questions you may have here. If you want to hear more, visit First Baptist Church of Cutler Ridge tomorrow, you already have the Sermon Outline!

Are you an Adult?

 That is a question for the ages! As an older Man I see an alarming trend. I see more and more boys and girls who refuse to grow up; because of this they seem to never develop the ability to connect decisions to consequences or put another way, the action to the result! We now live in a world where "it is someone else's fault" for everything that ails us. What happened to hard work, what happened to personal responsibility, what happened to integrity?

I am not opposed to someone keeping the money they earn as long as they earned it legally. I am not opposed to someone living in a nice house as long as they can pay for it. I am not opposed to someone having a new car as long as they can cover the cost. You see, I grew up in a generation that taught me, a nice house was the result (consequence of) work and savings. I learned that to have a nice car you worked and saved money to pay for it. For my generation there was a direct connection between food and work, there was a direct connection between shelter and work. The cloths on my back, yep, clothes were connected to work.

There was a direct connection between food and work

I understand that when I was a child the house, car, food and clothes did not come as a result of my work, but it certainly did come as a result of someone’s work! As I grew my parents made it clear, they provided room and board; this comes with being a family. However, the older I got there was also an expectation that I would contribute more to that family. As I required more of the family resources my contribution needed to grow as well. My parents had no obligation to provide a car (for me personally), a phone (cell or landline for me personally) and when I went out with friends I covered the expense. I was taught there was a difference between needs (things required to sustain life) and wants (cell phones, new cars, concert tickets, internet, etc., those are bonuses and blessings to life). My parents did not have the money to provide many of the extras I wanted, but that did not mean that I could blame them if I did not do what I could to earn those things (legally)! Too often I hear, “if my Father had been better” or “If I had not been raised by a single parent”, this is then followed by “I wouldn’t have turned out this way” or “I would be better off”. I am now 50 years old, and have been married since I was 18, if I am a mess now at this age; it is because I made bad choices! After 32 years of making my own decisions I have no one to blame.

  Do not expect a free ride 

Now, I am not opposed to helping someone with the necessities of life and helping them achieve self-sufficiency and even growth toward more as long as they do not expect a free ride or expect someone to give them the house, car and money with no strings attached. There should be an expectation of that person working their way out of charity, moving toward paying rent, paying their bills, being self-sufficient. Self-sufficient is what Adults become when they grow out of childhood. I know that as I age there may come a time when I am no longer self-sufficient. My wife and I still have both of our Mothers alive. What a blessing it is to have parents who are healthy, however, my mother and mother in law both know that they have a home with us should they need one. They have both been self-sufficient for a large portion of their life and continue to be, but should that change we will do right. Taking care of family is important and when a member of the family can no longer care for themselves we should not make that someone else’s responsibility. I also know that there are many who will never be self-sufficient. What is being discussed here is not an issue of medical, intellectual, physical or emotional ability certainly those issue play a role in self-sufficiency, however, medical, emotional, physical and emotional hindrances to self-sufficiency are also diagnosable and not just opinions and never an excuse for not being the best one can be.

We have a young man at our church 

We have a young man at our church, I am sure many would say He has a disability. Every time I see him I know a couple of things will happen, He will hug me, He will ask me how I am and we will talk about sports! What I see is a person who, is happy, content and knows what unconditional friendship is about. He would never make an excuse because He sees the possibility not the hindrance. Ever though He has a real, identified condition He also still strives to be the best He can be! What an honor to know such a person, and to have Him call me friend is incredible.

God provided water, manna and quail for the children of Israel as they wondered in the wilderness

God provided water, manna and quail for the children of Israel as they wondered in the wilderness but He never intended for them to make that a lifestyle! I have raised two sons. Each of my sons have turned out to be excellent Men, not because I did such a great job, I struggled more often than I succeeded in parenting. My Sons are successes because they have made good decisions. They are responsible for the quality of life they now lead, it was the decisions they have made and the results of those decisions that are to blame or the credit for the life they now lead! As they grew they took on more of the responsibility for the life they had, they began to buy the extras and now they provide the necessities and the extras, because they are Adults! I am proud of the men they are, the Husbands they are, the adults they have become. They both know that if they make a bad choice, and loose it all, they have a home to come to and we will provide food and shelter (the necessities). However, they also know that would be temporary. There would be an expectation that they would work to recover, moreover, they know that they would be required to show progress to self-sufficiency again. They also know that if you move home, you fall under family rule once again. You see adults who pay rent get to decide what time the door is locked! Adults who pay utilities are allowed to leave lights on. Adults who pay for grocery and cook the meals have the advantage of deciding what dinner looks like! Children who do not pay rent, pay utilities, buy the groceries have a bedtime and must eat broccoli!

Children who do not pay rent, pay utilities, buy the groceries have a bedtime and must eat broccoli! 

So, are you a real man? If so, order Pizza tonight with your own money earned doing your work, call your parents (on the phone you pay for) and tell them you love them and invite them over to dinner in the home you pay for! They will love it!