Today I’m pondering the inconsistencies of the progressives who have won some major battles this week. The battle was won but the war is far from over. When I mention progressives, I’m not talking about my democratic or liberal friends and family members. For even they no longer have a voice because the progressives have hijacked their party. The progressives led by our current president have taken over and are now leading our country just as they said they would. Our president promised a total transformation of our country and he is right on track. Here are a few of the inconsistencies that I’m pondering today. Gay marriage has been ordered upon us in all 50 states. If every state has to approve gay marriage, does that mean that I can now carry my concealed handgun in all 50 states and even Washington DC? If it’s good enough for gay marriage, it’s good enough for concealed carry. How about this one….progressives, including Hillary Clinton, sing the praises of Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood. A quick review of the writings of Margaret Sanger will reveal that she wanted to exterminate the black race and kill any child with a disease or disability. I wonder if my African-American friends who are planning on voting for Hillary Clinton know of this link between her and the racist Margaret Sanger. Here’s another inconsistency I’m pondering….the progressives proclaim to be so inclusive and tolerant of different viewpoints. However, just this week, they have shown their intolerance for those who want to display the Confederate Battle Flag. Try to espouse a Christian world-view on some of our major universities and you’ll see how intolerant today’s progressives are. One last inconsistency….progressives believe we should have open borders but yet the elite progressives live behind security fences. You would NEVER see a progressive allow illegal aliens the opportunity to live in their neighborhood. When they build a compound in downtown San Francisco likes the one they have built in Dilly, Tx to hold illegals, then I might change my mind about these progressives. But we all know that will never happen.
So here’s my thinking on this subject of being consistent. Whatever viewpoint we hold, we must be consistent in every situation. I hold a Christian world-view and I cannot say that I love God and hate my brother. The Bible says that if I do that, I’m a liar. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God and the second is to love others. There is NO room for hate for those of us who hold a Christian world-view and follow Jesus. The fastest way to reveal a phony is to find where they are inconsistent between their speech and actions. The more you pay attention to the progressives of our day, the easier it is to see the level of inconsistency between what they say and do.
In spite of all that is wrong with the world today, be encouraged friend because the Lord is near!

Blessings to you,
Randy

A few weeks ago Hurricane Sandy slammed into the shores of New York and New Jersey creating death and destruction in its path.  Many homes in the path of Hurricane Sandy were destroyed but yet some remained intact.  The reason some houses were not destroyed was because of their solid foundation.  What’s the name of your storm….betrayal of trust, declining health, financial setbacks, relationship failures?  All these can be  consequences of our bad choices.  Everywhere we turn, we see lives and families destroyed by the storms of life.  Many of those storms are our own creation, our sin.  My pastor has said many times, “You can choose your sin, but you can’t choose your consequence.  God’s desire, however, is that our lives and relationships survive the storms because of a strength that fills us from within. That power is released when we step out in faith and let Jesus live his strong life in us.  The switch that turns on the power is faith and obedience.  Our lives do not have to be destroyed in the storms of life if we have the solid foundation of faith in Christ.  The wise soul is someone who not only listens to what Jesus teaches but also builds their life on the foundation of obedience, allowing Jesus’ powerful message to make a real difference. The foolish soul doesn’t apply Jesus’ wisdom to the way he lives. The difference is revealed when the storms of life rage. The person who lives by God’s Word can withstand any storm.

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse, because it is built on rock. But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will fall with a mighty crash.” (Matthew 7:24-27 NLT)

Be encouraged today friends, for the Lord is near!

I was reminded today how small things can have a big impact.  That impact can be either negative or positive.  For me today, the little thing that made a big impact was a human voice.  It wasn’t a particularly powerful or influential voice.  It wasn’t loud and strong, but rather soft and, in the world’s view, rather insignificant.  Someone said told me today how much they appreciated the work I was doing on their behalf.  Wow, you would have thought I had just won a million dollars.  How awesome it is when someone says “thank you!”  Friends, let me encourage you to pay it forward tomorrow.  Tell someone how much you appreciate them; that you love them, that they are doing a great job.  You will reap a harvest of blessing when you use a little thing like your voice to bless someone.  Be encouraged today friends, for the Lord is near!

”Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.”  John 14:6 (NASB)

The city of Eugene, Oregon boasts that it is one of the most liberal, tolerant cities in our country.  See the sections under “community” and “anarchy” at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene,_Oregon

They celebrate their tolerance!  However, this week the city council of Eugene, Oregon decided that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance before city council meetings is divisive and they would no longer recite the pledge.  Can you imagine?  Yes friends, the Pledge of Allegiance is now being described as divisive.   From the city that describes themselves as a seat of tolerance, comes the ultimate act of intolerance.

I began thinking about this politically correct tolerance movement and what God might think about it.  As I read the scripture, I have come realize that God is NOT tolerant.  Throughout scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation, there are examples where God did not allow His people to stray far before He brought down His wrath.  He is not a tolerant God.  The ultimate act of His intolerance is shown in whom He allows into heaven…”Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.”  God will not allow non-believers into His heaven.

Let’s not allow the “tolerance” police to dictate what we allow in the public sector.  We are blessed to live in this great country.  Yes, we have challenges but when the “tolerance” crowd seeks to impose their belief system on us, we need to push back!  Let’s be intolerant of the “tolerance movement!”  The citizens of Eugene, Oregon need to stand up to this crazy city council and demand that they give honor where honor is due.

It is so great to live in the great State of Texas where every school child recites the Pledge of Allegiance every school day! Let’s keep it up!

Be encouraged today friends!                                                                                                                                                                                            Randy

What Drives Your Life?

The man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder – a waif, a nothing, a no man. Thomas Carlyle

Here we go again; the first line.  Everyone’s life is driven by something. I began to ponder….what drives me?  For many years I was driven by “the need to be needed.”  I bet some of you are driven by the very same thing.  You find your greatest purpose when others need to have you a round; a spouse, a job, a city, a club, a congregation.  Yep, even a congregation.  Ministers are in a unique position to have the “need to be needed,” met. 

Some of you are driven by guilt.  All of us have a past we want and need to forget.  Your memories drive your present and future because you are constantly trying to make up for past mistakes. 

Does resentment and anger drive you?  Unfair treatment by those whom we trust can produce a tremendous amount of anger and resentment.   Pastor Rick says “resentment always hurts you more that it does the person you resent.  How true that is!  Friend, its time to get rid of the guilt, resentment and anger.  Those who have hurt you can only continue to hurt you if you give them permission by hanging on to the anger and resentment.  Let it go!!

Are you driven by materialism and the need for approval?  This one hits home for many of us.  The need for approval is a very powerful motivator and will rule your life is you let it.  Here’s the problem, no matter how good, how talented, how pretty or handsome, how sweet and kind you may be, you cannot please everybody!  Trying to please everyone is a surefire way to failure!  My brothers and sisters in the ministry, especially those in the worship ministry should take this one to heart.  Materialism is also a cruel taskmaster.  The myth is that having more will make you more important and secure.  I have an acquaintance that makes a lot of money.  He told me he was happier when he and his wife had very little money or possessions.  Now, he says, he has to spend way too much time thinking about how to keep his money. When you die, you are going to leave every dollar and every possession here.  There is no way around it.  Your eternal security can only be found in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Tomorrow we’ll look at the benefits of living the purpose driven life.  In the meantime friend, spend some time thinking about what drives you.  If  you are driven  by anything other than your true purpose, it’s times to set those things aside and start living the purpose driven life.

Be encouraged today friends!  Randy

It All Starts with God

 For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible…everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him.  Colossians 1:16 (Msg)

I love that scripture verse.  When I first read The Purpose-Driven Life (PDL) I can remember reading that opening scripture reference and thinking that I was going to like this book; and then I read the first line…..It’s not about you.  Wow, that just blew me away.  When PDL came out in 2002, I was about 2 years into a full-time ministry position as the Worship Leader at the First Baptist Church in Salado, TX.  We had a very successful ministry, Pam and I lived in really cool older house in a historical neighborhood, had an in-ground pool, with lots of pecan trees.  I drove a nice car and had lots and lots of friends.  Looking back on those years, I realize that I didn’t believe the first line of the book.  I didn’t really want to hear that it wasn’t about me.  Don’t get me wrong, I did NOT believe that the universe revolved about me but I did have a pride problem.   My pride problem was a secret sin and at the time, I didn’t realize how bad it was.

The PDL hit me like a ton of bricks.  I really thought my purpose in life was to be a worship leader; and here is a pastor telling me that my purpose is to please God, not be a really cool musician.  What a revelation!  First and foremost, it all starts with God, not with what I want.  It doesn’t start with my talent, my personality, my energy or anything I bring.  It starts with Him; He is the source, not just a starting place.  You were made by God and for God…and until you understand the, life will never make sense.  In trying to answer the question, “Why am I here?” we usually start with what we bring to the question.  Pastor Rick says that we should simply look to God, through a relationship with His son, Jesus Christ.  The answer is not a speculation, it is a revelation!

God was thinking of you long before you ever thought about Him.  This was an amazing statement by Pastor Rick.  Could it really be that God planned on me before I was even conceived?  We bring lots to the question of, “What is my purpose?”  We bring our talents, energies, careers, hobbies, money, time and lots of other things.  But, we don’t get to choose our purpose!  I LOVE it!  Boiled down to a simple statement, our purpose is to please God and follow His will!

A point to ponder:  It’s not about me. Pride will NOT be an issue if we remember this simple statement.

A verse to remember:”Everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him.” Colossians 1:16b (Msg) If God started it and our purpose is found in Him, why look anywhere else?

A question to consider: In spite of all the advertising around me, how can I remind myself that life is really about living for God, not myself?  For me, be content with what I have.  I’m greatly blessed and I don’t need any more!

Be encouraged my friends!  Randy