I Vote America UNITED

Nov 9th 2016
Scripture: Mark 3:25 (NIV)

I Vote America UNITED

"If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand."

Jesus was accused by the Pharisees that He was using demonic power to drive out demons from people releasing them from their possession. This seemed a suitable explanation to them as to how Jesus could have the authority, if not from God Himself. Jesus turned to them and pointed out the error in their logic. If a house is divided... 

Divided means to be "separated into parts or pieces" or "conflicting interests" or "disagreeing with one another". If you had a door, a window, four walls, and a roof, you wouldn't have a house, but merely a door, a window, four walls, and a roof. The pieces only become a house when they are unified together becoming something more than just themselves. The "door" is no longer just a slab of wood with a knob on it, but the entree way into a home. Some say, "divide and conquer", but in this case I would say that in your defining moments, "if you divide, you will be conquered."

It was crazy to see how close the 2016 American Presidential Election was on either side. Some states were won or lost by a 2-4% difference. Talk about being split down the middle. And I woke up to videos posted of protests and riots in response to the results. My Fellow Americans, we can't do this! I know everyone doesn't always agree, and that it's alright to express disappointment. But we must not lose the uniting factor that no matter the results "at the end of the day, we are still on the same team." which President Obama just recently said. If we truly want to "make America great again", we have to believe that we really are "stronger together"; not as democrats, or republicans, but as Americans. So let's stop this useless squabbling, and show the rest of the world that we the people can be the UNITED States of America once again.

"Lord Jesus, I pray Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Amen." 

Don't Let Caesar Seize Your Soul

April 4th 2016

Scripture: Luke 20:25 (ESV)

Don't Let Caesar Seize Your Soul

"Then He said to them, 'Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.'"

The religious leaders sent spies to Jesus, attempting to catch Him saying something against the Roman government so they could arrest Him as a rebel. They asked if it was lawful to give taxes to Caesar. It would be equivalent today as asking, "Do I have to pay taxes to the President and the government, since we are part of God's kingdom?" Jesus ingeniously asks for a coin, saying to those around Him, "Who's face is on the side? Caesar's? Then if they made it, give them what's theirs, and God, what belongs to God. The truth is God really doesn't care much for little green pieces of paper. He would much rather have your soul than your salary. If taxes got extremely high and you had to pay the government to the point you couldn't give God more than your last two pennies, would He value those any less than the ten percent most churches expect now?

As long as it doesn't require us to break our allegiance to God, we must live in the world and its systems and rules, but not of it's passions and desires. Now there are times when the world will try to demand our worship, loyalty, and heart, to other things apart from God. There are many stories in The Bible when God's people had to stand up against culture and give God what belonged to Him. Just ask Danial, or Esther, or Moses. I must ask myself, "Am I giving the right things to the right owners?" I need not complain about my government, but rather pray for them. 

"Lord Jesus, thank You that I have freedom to give You my heart and soul. Help those in authority of this country to fear and respect You. As I live in this world help me to reserve all that is Yours, while I am still subject to the worldly authorities. I pledge my allegiance to You. Amen."