When ever I get into trouble by clinging to myself or the world, thoughts such as this creep into my soul and draw me back. Job, in his praise and petition to God reminds us that we are, in comparison to God, nothing. Psalm 109:26,30 reads with the clarity of our response to God’s intervention in our lives; “Help me, O LORD my God! Save me according to your steadfast Love. ..With my mouth I will give thanks to the LORD; I will praise Him in the midst of the throng.” My friends write of the trials in Africa, that of Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Egypt and Morocco and my soul weeps for them all. But in spite of all the trials, persecutions and turmoil, they not only remain faithful, they call upon a greater reliance on the Word and the Way of Jesus.

Often I wallow in self pity over the shortcomings of my leisurely life, but these godly folk,whose lives are in constant fear, shout the joy of God’s Salvation and I feel guilty for my bellyaching. Paul wrote to the Roman Christians, both those from Judaism and the gentile converts, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the Power of God for Salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the Righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith. …” Romans 1:16-17 (ESV). Do not be ashamed, but be proud to shout the Word and the Salvation to those who mock you. From generation to generation, man has returned to the Gospel, fresh and new in their hearts. The Romans could not quell it, nor could the hordes from the East. Islam shall not quiet the Word, nor shall the many Hindu gods or the un-god of Communism. Every time science tries to prove God does not exists, it only proves that He does.

In America and in Europe, secular reasoning tries to quiet the Truth with “Political correctness” and yet more and more people come to hear the Word and to exalt the God of Creation. In every Church, numbers grow and people seek to hear how the righteousness of Jesus can save their lives. What is amazing is the growth of the Christian Faith in the Nations where persecutions are the greatest. As more and more effort is given to squash the faithful, their numbers continue to grow.

While Christian religion has in the recent past been taken for granted in America and England, believers are now called to defend their belief in courts, ballot boxes and public forums. Student are told that they can not mention Jesus or God at school functions, nurses are not allowed to offer to pray for patients, Christians are being denied to take in orphans or abused children because they may “convert” them. But, like Paul, they are not ashamed of their faith. “So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:6-7 ESV). “Therefore, knowing the fear (reverence) of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God,and I hope it is known also to your conscience.” 2 Corinthians 5:11 (ESV).

Even now as the world faces the strikes against Christ, the word remains strong. as I browse the Internet and Facebook, I find more and more Bible orientated links. This makes my heart glad, for even though the flesh will try to keep the Word of God quiet, it is not possible to shut down all the sites that offer Hope and Faith in Christ. Job answered the LORD with these words: “I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.” Take courage, my faithful friends, take strength in what the Lord says, ‘Remember these things…for you are my servant;…I am the LORD, Your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb….” Isaiah 44:21,24. (ESV). What God has made in His likeness, He will not abandon. What He has created by His hand for His pleasure, He will not forsake. From this generation to the ends of time itself, extol His works, exalt His Name and share His Love.

The media, the press and the law makers, all find ways to silence our right to speak of God’s Law and the Promise of Christ. They make mockery of our Faith and our fortitude, our resolve to stay faithful to the ways of righteousness. In these difficult and aggravating times I turn to Psalm 118 for comfort. From the opening verses of this procession hymn to the very last there is the song of Hope and Jubilation.

“Let Israel say,(that is the Nation)
His steadfast Love endures forever.
Let the house of Arron say, (The leaders of the churches)
His steadfast Love endures forever.
Let those who fear the LORD say, (Those who are faithful to God)
His steadfast Love endures forever.” Psalm 118:2-4

When the world turns against us, we are to rejoice in the blessings of the Most High God. As a society, we are to declare God’s enduring love for us. Our priests, pastors and spiritual leaders are to live His Holy Name up. And we as the congregation of Christ, are to sing praises of His Salvation. As we are surrounded by the trials of the world, we are to rely on God and the Law of His Loving-kindness to see us through. We are His eternally and our life with him is forever. As a nation, as a priesthood of believers and as a congregation of love, we are to retain an attitude of praise to the Creator.

Psalm 118:5-7 says in part, “the LORD is on my side,…I shall look in triumph…” Nothing the world throws at true believers will sway them from the pleasure that God provides. Verse 8 tells us, “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.” With God on our side, the side that is surrounded with Righteousness, godly service, purity of body and spirit and abounding love for one another, how can the wicked ever prevail against our souls? The bodies we wear are of the world, made of flesh and bone. The homes we live in are of brick, wood and mortar. None of these things will last, they are of the world but we are not of the world, our souls are of heavenly things. Although the world may seem to triumph over us, that victory is short lived.

Every were we go, we are surrounded by the sinful nature of man. Wickedness and sin penetrate our workplaces, our schools and our homes (through the media). Even our churches seem to buckle under the weight of sin as leaders lead adulterous lives, condone homosexuality and extort poor people with false promises of prosperity. Yet under this barrage of ungodliness those who live in the rightness of God’s pure Law stand strong. Because we know that the true life began with Christ Jesus and is assured by the promise of the Holy Spirit (see Ephesians 1:3-14), we are held in the “Bosom of Abraham” and shall rest in the palm of His Hand.

We know that “I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD.” (Psalm 118:17). With the grace of God and our desire to live wholly and honestly in His Ways, we are already triumphant. As we see our brothers and sisters tormented and slaughtered in strange lands, we are confident that they are victorious by their Faith. As we see our ideals of faith weakened and dismissed by permissive courts under false notions that we have a duty to protect the sinful, we remain strong. When the final battle is waged, God will send the man with the writing case (Jesus) to place the mark of salvation on our foreheads and none pf the wicked shall withstand his harsh judgement (Read Ezekiel 9:1-11). We are always to adhere to His ways, His Words and His Love. “The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep Your words. …When I think on my ways, my feet turn to Your Testimonies.” (Psalm 119:57,59). In order to walk in the victory to the heavenly temple of the Most High, we are to keep our souls right with Him. Often I stress this little preached fact. Only those who obey God truly love Him. Only those who live to serve God in righteous living, are counted as the redeemed. To say Lord, I believe and not live in belief is to lie to God and deny salvation. Even Satan believes in God!

To get back on track, Psalm 118:19 and following tell us, “OPEN the gates of RIGHEOUSNESS, that I may enter through them…I thank You that You have answered me and have become my salvation.” And, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the LORD’s doing…” (see Matthew 21:42-44; Acts 4:10-12; and 1 Peter 2:4-8). Jesus is the foundation stone that the Kingdom of God is built on. Through Him we walk in triumph over the true enemy of our souls. “Let us be glad and rejoice in it!” Are you living in triumph or are you coasting along on the seas of despair? Are you building on the foundation of Christ or are you stumbling over it? Are you singing praises to God’s Glory with thanksgiving or are you moaning on the wayside, lost and dejected? It is the time now to say with an open heart, filled with gratitude for the blessings bestowed upon us, “You are my God,and I will give thanks to You. You are my God; I will extol You. Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures FOREVER!” (Psalm 118:28-29

As I laid on the floor weeping in my despair, my past was revealed to me and in all the times that I sought to end my live, God sent someone to encourage me, lift me up or in some way rescue me. I asked why was this so, why did it matter that I live? And I was answered in a clear and totally honest voice that still clings to me, “Because I died that you may have Life!”

It was revealed that even before I was born, God had a purpose and a goal for my life. Now after 29 years, I still marvel that God should think so highly of me that even though I despised Him and the teaching of His Son, that he saw fit to use me, again and again. I liken myself much as Paul the Apostle for whom I was named. In my past I ridiculed Christians as vain, stupid people following a myth and a lie. But because of the Truth that was revealed to me during those early morning hours, I found that I was the vain and silly fool.

When ever I start to think to highly of myself, I am reminded of hte person I once was and how only when I surrendered myself to God’s will, was I made truly alive. This is the birthday of my salvation but yet it isn’t for I was saved on the cross and accepted even before the beginning of time. Do you remember the hour you first believed?

We need to take things into perspective in these times. Vanity, Greed, Gluttony, Drunkenness, Divorce and Lewdness are mentioned by Jesus as offensive to God. Lying to God and using the position of leadership to deceive, extort or abuse are far more sinful. These offences are more troubling to the health of the church than the sins of the flesh.

Do not get me wrong, I am not trying to condone homosexuality but trying to put into its proper perspective. In the Oral Law, it was equal to adultery, fornication, incest, and pedophilia. We, as a Christian society, have not only condoned these behaviors, we have embraced them. We have even gone so far as to say that parents of children who have babies out of wedlock are “good role models.” we have labels a president whose wife practices sorcery as a wonderful Christian. And believe me, “channeling” is a form of sorcery. We have adapted New Age principles and ideas into our worship.

While I condemn the churches that have embraced the homosexual life style as from the pulpit, I also condemn those who elect to keep the fornicators, adulterers and child abusers. I shudder to think how may drunkards, gluttons and abusive men and women are in positions of church authority. We need to clean up our own acts before cast stones at others. We need to face the reality that ALL sin is sin and an affront to God’s Mercy and Compassion.

Having said all this, I want to also add my voice to those who support the California Marriage Act. Because the term marriage is and always has been defined as the relationship between a man and a woman in every culture know to man, it should remain so. The civil rights of those who want to have a legal binding relationship between two person of the same sex should not be called marriage. In the State of California, there is such provisions through Civil Unions. These are both legal and binding and that should be enough for them. But Marriage in the American cultural sense is the same as the sacred union established by Biblical Traditions. So to those who wish to change the law to satisfy their egos, GET OVER IT!

I know that this will end up in the Supreme Court and they have been notorious in for ruling against God at every turn. So I am convinced that Big Brother will once again distort the language of the Constitution with “good speak” and eventually Religion will take a back seat to will of the unsaved.

God Help this Nation in its many times of sin.

The government of the United States of America still finds it right and just to continue to support these nations that have little regard for the well being of Christian minorities. I don’t lay the blame on the Administration but on the continued policies of the last forty years of the rule of the Industrial Military Complex that Eisenhower warned us of while he was president. We are so entrenched in the fears of the “Cold War” mentality that it has clouded our Christian sensibilities. While I do support the need of a strong defense, our constant assertions that the world is against us is precisely because of our arrogance, intrusions and the “need to wave the big guns at everybody and at the same time call them friends.

We sold our souls to the Chinese, Indians, Arabs and Global corporations. We have become a nation that sells out our fellow man because of the “new god”, money. Because we have become dependant on the Chinese trade, Arab oil and the International Banks, we walk in fear of everyone. We support Dictators and Despots. We buy fuel from companies that supply and train racketeer militias in Burma. The Christian principles that this nation was founded on have been lost to the “best interests” of worldly concerns. It is well past time to condemn the actions of those countries that seem fit to attack our Faith, our LORD and our spiritual freedom.

When nations deem it right and even sacred to kill our brothers and sisters in Christ, then we as a nation should condemn them instead of supplying them with the means to continue atrocities against God. We have boycotted North Korea but continue to support the terrorist regime of Burma. We condemn Palestine and Iran yet continue to support Iraq, Pakistan and Egypt who have killed more Christians or supported genocide against free people within their own borders.

THIS IS NOT THE WAY OF CHIRST JESUS!

God has commanded us to live with peace and to condemn those who seek war. We are to brush the dust from our sandals from those who reject His teachings, His Salvation and His Mercy. As a nation “under God”, we should open our doors to all people who suffer persecution in their homelands and offer up our homes, schools and freedoms to them. We should not continue to support the governments that defile God’s Word. Our troops would be better served if they defended the natural borders of our land rather than the financial institutions and special interests of foreign enterprises.

We would do better to spend more time in churches praying for the well being of our persecuted brethren than singing praises to God that we are blessed because we are not like them. The next time you look at your daughters, think of the Egyptian Christians girls forced into marriage against their will by Islamic radicals at the age of twelve. Think of the small Christian Children forced to work as slaves in Islamic household to pay off falsified debts in Pakistan. When you get out of your warm beds in the morning, think of the families of the Karen Christians of Burma and the Diat Indians who were burned out of their homes by Buddhist and Hindu radicals while the government stood by and did nothing. And add to this the fact that in Mexico, local government have the right to expel from thier comunities Chirstians because the local leaders are pagans.

As long as this nationcontinues to support, evil or uncaring governments throughout the world, we are slaves to the same sins. We can not serve God and the Devil at the same time. We must stand up for Christ! We must comdemn the corperations, political leaders and businesses that keep us in bongage to evilness.

Heed the words of peter, “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human instution. …” (1Peter 2:13) Be subject to the fact that this nation is ruled by the voice of the people and as such, in condoning the actions of evil, we are not being subject for the Lord’s sake. In supporting persecution, we are ourselves subject to God’s wrath.

Encountering the Living God

I called upon the Lord to lift me up,
For I had sinned against Him.
I called to the Lord to accept me
For I had grieved Him also.
I wept before the Lord again
And cried in anguish
for I was truly a sinful man.

Now I have the Strength of the Lord
And His Peace!
Now I have the loyalty of the Spirit
Within my soul!
Now I have the Trust in the Father
And am no longer afraid.
Thanks to the Eagle,
The Holy Spirit of the LORD!

Written and experienced Aug 13, 1981, by Paul R. Shiras at Sierra Christian Ashram. The day of my Reconciliation and Salvation. The beginning of my Sanctification and Spiritual journey with God and His Wonderful Word.
In His Everlasting Loving-kindness,
Paul Shiras

Over the years, I have become very fond of the sacrament of Holy Communion. And now I have noticed that churches are seemingly avoiding it all together. To me this is a very sad course of events. Early in my walk into Faith I experienced the pure joy of the Christ Experience that one can get from Holy Communion and now I feel the absence of Christ in it. I wondered why this came to be and feel that it is because the Leadership in the churches have never fully understood why Christ gave the commandment to the disciples to do it in remembrance of Him. I intend to bring it to your mind now so that you will be eager and even anxious to receive it.

Let me begin with the Event itself. Jesus is celebrating the Seder Feast with His chosen freinds. As a part of the meal the “Elder” is to lift bread up to God and bless it for the family. It was after Jesus blessed the bread that he told them that “This is My Body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” (Luke 22:19). In doing this, He was presenting Himself as the Passover Lamb who was to be an offering to God for the protection of the Israelites in captivity as slaves. Jesus offered Himself for us as the perfect offering for our captivity to the sinful nature that has held us in bondage since the fall of Adam. He, in the gesture, has presented Himself as the atonement sacrifice. The breaking of the bread represents the breaking of His body for us. This offering is done so that we might have reconciliation with God and freedom from the pains of our offences to God.

When Jesus followed the meal with the customary wine offering, He told the disciples, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in My Blood.” (Luke 22:20). This is equally important because the wine was poured to represent the flowing blood of the lamb offering and the marking of the doorposts of the Israelites so that the Angel of Death would “Passover” their houses. The shedding of the Blood of Jesus is the making of the new covenant of God with Man. The marking of the “doorposts” of our hearts with the Blood of Jesus is the reminder that the Angel of Death in the time of Judgement will pass over us and we shall live in Eternity. We are sealed by the blood of Jesus and marked with Grace of the Holy Spirit as preserved in Grace. As we take communion, we are celebrating our freedom from sin’s bondage and the release from the wrath of God’s judgements.

So as we partake in the joy of our salvation, we are to reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus that we are free. The first time it was offered it was the foretelling of the redeeming grace of Jesus’ death and every time we join in the taking of communion, we are to recall His Mercy and Love for us in His dying. Paul tells us, “And you who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him.” (Colossians 1:21-22 ESV).

This is the primary reason to seek to have communion but there are other reasons to consider. The book of Hebrews tells us that Jesus is the High Priest in the “Order of Melchizedek.” Looking at the full verse, “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul. a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 6:19-20). Now Melchizedek was the only one who was both a priest to the Most High God, he was also the King of Salem which means he was the king of peace (Salem means peace).
He was recorded as making a offering of peace on the behalf of Abram, an offering of bread and wine. Under Levitical Law, only the High Priest could make the peace offering in the inner chamber with the pouring the blood of the peace offering over the alter on Passover Sabbath.

Jesus presented Himself as equal to the Temple High Priest and offered His Blood as the Pascal Peace offering. By this action He gave of Himself that we would no longer be enemies of God through our transgressions but would have Peace with God. In sharing of the meal of the passover, we join Jesus as friends of God rather than the enemies of Grace. We who were once the enemies of God now sit at the Table of Peace with the Master. We join with Abraham and the saints of Salvation in sharing the Peace Meal that was restricted to the temple priests since the entering into the Promised Land. We are not entered into the Promised Land but live in the Land of God’s Promise. We who were at War with God are now Friends of God. We who were aliens to His grace are now heirs of Salvation and we are welcomed at the Master’s table. The most rewarding idea is that Jesus declared that we are the new temples of God. When we take of the peace offering, we are having the “Blood of Jesus” poured on our hearts as the altars of the Temple of the Most High.

The third thing that I want to share is key to the verse I opened with. We are to share in the unity of the One Body by the taking of the elements of Communion. As we who are individuals become one in Christ, we celebrate the uniqueness of that oneness by sharing the same loaf, the same cup. Communion is the uniting of our individuality by the surrendering our separateness and joining in as all members of the one body that is Christ. When we partake of Communion, we are partaking in the presence of Jesus as our Redeemer within our lives both as individuals and as a collective group. We are demonstrating our Unity of Spirit, and our unity with Christ. We are declaring that we are One With God and that God abides in us and we abide with Him through the Body and Blood of Jesus.

The whole point of what I am declaring is that the only way that communion is meaningless is if Jesus is meaningless to us. If there is the True Love of Jesus in your heart, then you would readily be in prayerful thanksgiving, remorseful heart and of contrite mind when ever the offering that Jesus gave for us is presented. When you take the elements your heart should be rejoicing that you have the presence of Jesus in your life and His redeeming, purifying grace of Reconciliation. Holy communion is the gathering of the believers to join in the oneness of Christ with ourselves. “For Christ also suffered, once for sins, the righteous for unrighteousness, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the Spirit.” (1 Peter 3:18 ESV).

Let your heart dwell on the the Pascal Sacrifice, the Peace Offering and the Communion of Believers. Praise God that He should deem it righteous that we who are so unworthy, should be counted among those who are blessed, made Happy in the presence of Salvation. When we go before the Lord’s Table we are to desire the Unity of God’s Spirit covenant, being one body with the Lord, have a contrite heart seeking to change ourselves to be truly holy and blameless, and to live in a mind changed for Jesus, no longer counted as unworthy but as Blessed. Be in celebration with the Most High and welcome Christ anew each time you receive the elements. Seek the blessings of God by meditating on the purpose of the feast and remember that as often, not as seldom, we do this we do it in remembrance of Christ’s Glory and Grace given for our sake.

Examine yourselves for the things that separate us from God’s love and confess them. Strive to welcome the Redeemer in your presence and present to Him a holy vessel eager to accept Him. And be prepared to take the risk for His sake as His took our sins for our sake. As where two or three are gathered in His Name, He is among them when we partake in His offering to us, His presence is clear. Jesus is with us as we take His gifts to us.

Be Blessed, be glad and be aware of Christ in all things. We share in the Pascal Feast of Jesus, we welcome the High Priest into our inner sanctuary and we sit as friends with God at His Holy Table; we share with each other the Glory of Christ.

There are many who proclaim to love God and who are professing to be “born again Christians” who live in a double minded world. The author of Psalm 119 has come from Babylon only to find that the remnant who was left behind has adopted the religion and culture of the Assyrians and Persians and corrupted their faith in the God of their ancestors.

While claiming to be faithful to God, they have in fact, deserted Him and the Law of Moses. He has come to hate these people that want to corrupt his Faith and the Law among the returning exiles. The is choice is clear! The only avenue to follow is one that holds the evil in the land with great contempt (see Ezekiel 9:3-6) and to love the Law with a zealous heart. The writer is concerned that these people who have corrupted the word and joined with the “world view” will dilute and distort the faithful. Is that not also something that has happened in the churches today? Haven’t too many believers succumb to the teachings that divorce, abortion, sexual misconduct and homosexuality are not “sin”? All around us we see the Word of God weakened or outright attacked and the people who want to follow the Word of God and the teachings of Our Lord Jesus are mocked and persecuted.

But as for me and my family, we will stay in balance with God by obedience to the Heart of the Law, Jesus. As with the writer, I love the peace that God’s Law, his Word, gives me. My soul is secure not in the claiming to be a Christian but in the refuge and protection that living in obedience to His Loving Will offers me.

The psalmist tells the corrupt and deceivers, “Get out of my life!” Whenever we find those who condone, practice or promote sin in their lives and justify it by saying, “I am saved, God has forgiven me of what I am about to do,” we are to run to the nearest exit lest they corrupt us. Many times I have heard that contemptuous living is justified because, “Jesus forgave me and nothing I do is considered a sin.” That is not what Jesus said nor is it what Paul tried to convey to the early church. Jesus said, “If you love Me, you WILL obey my commandments.” In Matthew 7:21,23 Jesus says, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord” will enter the Kingdom of heaven. … I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness.’” Then he continues with the illustration of the house built on rock (Faithfulness) and the house built on sand (foolishness). See Matthew 7:24-27).

David says in Psalm 139:17-18, “How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I could count them, they would be more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.” It is better to live one day with God than a thousand anywhere else. It is wiser, surer and more blessed to be living in the Word of God than to dwell in the failings of the world.

The Psalmist cries out, “Hold me up that I may be safe and have regard for your statutes continually!” (Psalm 119:117 ESV). While under the stress of the challenge of belief by those who would seek to justify falsehoods, he goes to the Creator to give him the strength and encouragement to withstand them. It is easy to say that it is alright to live a sinful life, Jesus has forgiven me, but the truth is that Jesus only forgives the contrite heart and those who seek to be true repentants thereby no long desiring to repeat the offenses against their Redeemer and purifier. “Uphold me according to Your promise that I may live [in grace]” is his desire. That is the dream of the faithful.

For it is by the Grace of the Father, given to us by the Divine Breath of the Holy Spirit as the result of the Sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. In this we are forgiven and in this we are live in obedience of the Law of Christ’s Perfect Sacrifice. While many will use Paul’s Letter to the Romans to say that we can not earn our right to salvation (and I have no argument with that), he also says in Romans 8:9,12, “You therefore, are not of the flesh but of the spirit, if in fact the spirit of God dwells in you. … so then brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh to live according to the flesh.” We are to die to sin and to reject all things that lead to sin.

The psalmist goes on to condemn those who reject the law of godliness and embrace the ways of the flesh, even to call them the scum of the earth! In verse 119 he claims that God has removed the wicked like dross, the film of waste that is left after refinement of metal. In verse 118, the claim that those who reject God are in turn rejected is made and we should take perfect note of that. When those who profess the faith yet reject all the teachings of moral behavior, who refuse to live within the Law of righteousness expect that God is so forgiving that he will allow them to be counted as the redeemed is ludicrous. Those who cry out “Lord, Lord,” and walked in the path of evil will not be counted as those who know the Lord Christ. As the New Living Translation says, “They are only fooling themselves.”

The choice is ours, to live in the loving care of Our Redeemer in obedience and service, or to live outside of His Grace by remaining in a sinful lifestyle. Will we love God’s testimonies by faithfulness to them or will we reject His love for us by disobedience? It is time, and long overdo, to stop the feel-good theology and return to the testament of godly obedience.

The final verse of this stanza, Psalm 119:120 reads, “My flesh trembles for fear of Thee, and I am afraid of Thy Judgments.” (RSV). The fear is the respect of God, the reverence of His Awesomeness. It is not a fear of a coward or of as from a bully, but the fear that we might cause sorrow to the greater among us. And God is among us, through the Holy Spirit. If a police officer was standing beside you would you break the law before his eyes? Yet we who claim Christ, daily choose to disregard His presence and continue to sin; deliberately and continually claiming that His forgiveness allows us to behave this way.

Christ came that we might be free from the sinful nature that rules the flesh. Seek to walk in the path of Jesus and flee from the desires of the flesh. Love the Testimonies of Faith, righteousness and clean living that we may not be as the dross, the scum on the melting pot of purification. Let us not be like the remnant left behind who added to their beliefs the ways of the pagans, the common law of self-indulgence, and remain faithful to the command of Jesus to obey the meaning of the whole of the Law. That is to Love God with our entire being and to love our fellow man as we love ourselves. Let us live in the loving-kindness to each other and the devotion to God as Christ has shown us.

Let our Faith be one-way, all the way and in the Way. Put out the double minded man and become single-minded for Christ’s holiness. Let us become Wholly devoted to God. Let us stand up to those who want to defile us with hypocrisy, decadence and the foolishness of sin.

For the last several years we read the reports of persecution against Christians in countries that we call our friends. Yet I see little action or response to these horrific actions. India still has not addressed the riots on 2008. Egypt has not changed the policies that led to the Little Christmas massacre of Jan 6, 2010 and Pakistan has done little to stem the constant abduction, rape, forced conversions and marriages of minor Christian girls.

And now I am getting reports form Open Doors Ministry and International Christian Concerns that the Afghanistan Parliament is considering the expulsion of Christian Aid groups and planning the execution of converts to Christianity. If we are to be a nation that supports Human Rights, Freedom of Religious beliefs and the Free Speech, then why are we continuing to provide aid, military support and free trade without limits to nations that hold our values in contempt? Why are American jobs lost to nations that repress their own people? Why do we offer favored status to China, India and other nations that think nothing of persecuting, murdering and torturing those who only what to worship God in their own way?

In the strongest language and backed up with action, this Nation should condemn, stop aid and restrict traffic to ALL nations that continue to persecute people of faith. Let this nation, with the strongest economy, military and voice, stop being the whipping post and whimpering giant and stand for its principles before God and the world.

Thank you and may God have mercy on our souls,

Paul Shiras
Wholly for Christ

I wonder how long it will take before preaching about any form of sin will be outlawed. Already we have dismissed divorce as a sin, lying is practiced openly and adultery is acceptable as well as fornication. Soon all sin will be legal and to openly preach about them will become the crime.

The courts in this land are ruling that Christian groups in universities must allow homosexuals and non-Christians be allowed to join and even become leaders. A judge tried to rule that the National Day of Prayer was unconstitutional. Atheism, Islam and even Marxism are allowed in our school curriculum but the Word of God that is the foundation of out laws is not.

How long will we stand quiet and let our nation slip into paganism? Soon nations like China will have more religious freedom and protection of Christian rights than England, U.S.A. and other “Free” Nations.

We need to put our voices and our hands to work and speak, write and march for protection of Christians to use their rights of free speech, assembly and press to openly share the Gospel in the public square and in the media. We need to gather freinds in the Media to fight for our rights and to protect our freedoms. Here in America and in Europe, Christians are being marginalized and pushed aside because of our Faith. People like Stephen Hawking are given air time to mock our beliefs and space to condemn us in the schools and on Television. Shows that promote false teachings, heresies and rumors are aired all the time but the Truth is hidden from view. Christian organizations should demand equal time and the right to refute these distortions of history and lies with the facts of the Gospel.

If the Church put as much effort in defending the Faith and defining true science and reliable as apposed to theory and speculation, we would gather merit in the public eye and find more people willing to stand with us. Let us become vocal, vibrant and even outrageous in the defense of Christ and the Gospel. Let us also remind the public that Christianity opened the doors of modern science, medicine and education. It was the Christian Church that brought Europe out of the Dark Ages. The first Universities were Christian. The Rule of Law came from the Church and the moral codes that provide protection for woman, children and minorities are all based on Christian understandings. Without the Church, we would still be living under either anarchy or a oppressive governments like Nazism, Fascism or Marxism. Without the Biblical Belief System, Tyranny would be the rule, the law of the strong and powerful rather than the grace of godly understanding.

In spite of what secular non-religious promoters what to tell our children, with out God’s Law to guide us, we would be dysfunctional. Our rights to share the Word of God and to promote godly living is the foundation of civilization and for the common good. Let us fight the Good Fight for Christ!