Keeping Our Focus

This is a crazy intense time right now. The elections are approaching and much is at stake. Nationally we face the election of a man whose history and words leave little doubt as to his murderous intent towards the most innocent, most vulnerable among us, the unborn. As California goes, so goes the nation. As such, the soul of the nation hangs in the balance here in California with Proposition 8 deciding if marriage should be redefined or maintained as between a man and a woman.

My family finds itself already targeted twice for having "Yes on 8" signs on our front lawn. The signs being vandalized once and a thwarted theft a second time (I caught them in the act). We are caught up in the midst of the campaign, eyes wide open, completely aware of what is at stake.

We spend our days canvassing neighborhoods and attending rallys, doing what we can to support the righteous definition of marriage. We spend our evenings discussing it and praying about it. More than once we have stayed up long past our bed time discussing the insanity of the national and state-wide situation.

It is critical that we remain focused. There are only 7 days left. Tomorrow is the last Wednesday before the election. We cannot lose focus. We must keep our eyes on the goal. With how I am spending my time (and money) you might be surprised to find out that I am not talking about the election. I am talking about keeping our eyes focused on the throne and Him who sits on it.

The Lamb has been slain. He died for McCain. He died for Obama. He died for every homosexual, married or otherwise. In the throne room, the angels still cry Holy and the elders still bow down and worship. They are unmoved by the "crisis" that we are facing in our nation.

Don't misunderstand me, I am not saying that we should stop working to see righteousness established here on earth. I am saying that we should not lose sight of reality. And the reality is what is happening in the Throne Room of Heaven.

The reality is that if McCain is elected and Prop 8 passes and the Republicans control the legislature we will still need Jesus more than ever. We would still be sinners, lost without Him.

So, as the election appoaches, don't lose focus of reality.

Finally I surrender ....

All I want is You to have Your way
You are the Potter and I am the clay
All I need is You to have Your way
You are Creator and I'm what You made

Finally, I surrender
- Misty Edwards

Father in Heaven, we are lost. We need your help. Righteousness is being declared evil, and evil is being called good. We are godless. Come fill our hearts. We repent of the injustice we have committed against you, placing ourselves on the throne while thinking that you don't care or even denying you.

But you are Good. You are Just. And you will not be mocked. We humble ourselves at your feet and plead the blood of your Son, Jesus, on our sins and the sins of our land.

Lord, we cry out. Have mercy on us sinners. Finally we surrender.

Order and Discipline

Dietrich Bonhoeffer in Life Together writes:

These [order and discipline] must be sought and found in the morning prayer and in work they will be maintained. The prayer of the morning will determine the day. Wasted time, which we are ashamed of, temptations that beset us, weaknesses and listlessness in our work, disorder and indiscipline in our thinking and our relations with other people very frequently have their cause in neglect of the morning prayer. The organization and distribution of our time will be better for having been rooted in prayer. The temptations which the working day brings with it will be overcome by this break-through to God. Decisions which our work demands will be simpler and easier when they are made, not in the fear of men, but solely in the presence of God. "Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, so to the Lord and not unto men" (Col 3:23). Even routine mechanical work will be performed more patiently when it is done with the knowledge of God and His command. Our strength and energy for work increase when we have prayed God to give us the strength we need for our daily work.

I rarely have morning prayer time. It is too easy to think that I don't have enough time. Or to stay up too late the night before exhausting myself physically, emotionally, and spiritually. But the truth is that the times that I have had morning prayer, even the most irregular, my days have gone better, I have been happier, and I have walked closer to God.

Abba, I desire to be with You. To walk with You. To talk with You. Remind me. Wake me from my slumber. Amen.

Would you deny Christ....

One of the most terrifying things that a person can imagine is to be forced to watch as their child is tortured by another human. I have heard many people say they aren't sure if they would be able to withstand the trial.

Yet is there anything that we can do today to keep our children alive? Certainly we can do our best to teach them to not play in the street, not play with poisonous snakes or spiders, etc. In essence, we can teach them about dangers but we cannot protect them from dangers.

Is there really anything that you can do when your child has incurable leukemia? How many parents have wished the pain of their child upon themselves? What parent wouldn't gladly and happily change places in the car with their little baby girl as a drunk driver careens into the side of the car causing permanent brain damage?

There certainly have been exceptions, but by in large most practicing Christ-followers understand that trials and struggles come in this fallen world. Not many are willing to deny Christ and their faith as they watch their child struggle with the pain and even die from disease or catastrophic injury. Quite the opposite actually. Most claim that they would not have made it through the trial if it hadn't been for the Christ. If it hadn't been for the faith they have in the age to come, they would not have been able to endure the pain.

Hebrews 12:2 says ...who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross... (NKJV)

Many have walked out that reality. Because of the knowledge that they would see their loved one again, whole, without pain, in complete joy and happiness, worshiping at the feet of the One who made them that way, these saints endured their own personal crucifixion.

So then, if we know that we are able to endure (through the countless stories of those who have gone on ahead) torture of our children at the hands of sickness, disease, and catastrophic accidents then why do we question our ability to endure torture of our children at the hands of evil men?

What is the difference between cancer and terrorists?

Sure, the terrorist is standing there, with a machete, threatening to cut your child's limbs off if you don't renounce your faith. You are presented with an option that you don't feel like you have with the cancer. But, would you make a deal with the devil for the cancer? Would you keep your child here on earth for another 70 years at the cost of the eternal joy set before you? Would you make a deal with the terrorist for the same thing?

We know that the devil is the father of all lies. We also know that the word of a person threatening life and limb of any individual is highly questionable.

So, at the cost of your own eternal soul, would you deny Christ to save the physical life of your child?

You wouldn't for cancer, so why would you deny Him for terrorists?