We all have trials and we are all at different stages of spiritual development, consequently we all deal with difficulties in different ways. Fortunately we see signs of growth in some folks, and they become effective witnesses for Christ. Others, however, go on year after year giving no evidence that they have matured. That should be a matter of great concern–for a number of reason. One reason why we should be troubled by this has to do with the impression we make on others. D. L. Moody said,”Out of one hundred men, one will read the Bible, the other ninety-nine will read the Christian”. He was right. People are watching us–all the time. We do well to remember that we are the only Bible some people will ever read. Let’s make sure the message is clear! A godly life preaches a silent but powerful sermon!

As much as it pains me to say this–I understand why some folks have no interest in becoming a Christian. They watch professing Christians behave as though God is dead, or mighty sick, or terribly unconcerned. Instead of displaying joyful obedience, devotion to their duty, compassion for others, and a cheerful spirit, they drag around with a frown on their face, shun their duties, and show no concern for anyone else. Unbelievers watch them and come to the conclusion that if that’s what becoming a Christian does to a person they want no part of it. Can you blame them? We ought to do better than that!

Old Sam Jones used to say,”I don’t care what a man says he believes with his lips; I want to know with a vengeance what he says with his life and actions”. He’s not the only one to feel that way.Moody said,”A holy life will make the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns, they just shine.” Our problem today is that a lot of “Christians” aren’t shining. They are leaving the wrong impressions on people who are in desperate need of Christ. That’s why Ghandi said,”I would have become a Christian had it not been for Christians”. O how sad! To think that the very people who should be the sinners greatest help becomes his worst enemy. Yet it just keeps happening!

Let us this very day get right with God and get rid of all those things that darken our testimony, deceive others and displeases God. Let us yield ourselves to the Lord and display the fruit of the Spirit so that others will see Christ in us. Until they see the difference Christ makes it is very unlikely that they will have any interest in fine preaching, gospel tracts, and invitations to church. If you are going to be an hindrance rather than a help it would be better if you didn’t even claim to be a Christian. As harsh as that might sound it is not nearly as bad as what the Lord thinks about the harm you are doing. It is a terrible sin to be a stumbling-block to others. Our manner of life should draw others to Christ, not drive them away. Think about it!

I can’t think about Veteran’s Day without thinking of what Paul said in Phil. 1:3,”I thank my God upon every remembrance of you”. Dear soldiers, you are in my thoughts and prayers!

“On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 the world rejoiced as a treaty was signed ending World War I” –known as “the war to end all wars”. One year later America celebrated what came to be known as Armistice Day, honoring those who served during the war. Then in 1938 Armistice Day was declared a national holiday. Sadly, shortly after that it became apparent that W.W.I was not to be the last war and W.W.II came– a war even bloodier than the first. But we prevailed because of people like you. Then in 1954 Congress changed the name of the holiday to Veteran’s Day, including the veterans of all U.S. wars.

Veteran’s Day is primarily intended to honor those who are still living for their service to America. While there is no way that we could ever repay our veterans for the service they’ve rendered, and they would be the last to ask for it, yet we can be thankful and show our appreciation–let us not fail in this!

On Memorial Day we remember the dead, as we well should, but on Veteran’s Day our attention is turned to the living—the ones still able to hear our words of thanks. We dare not be silent. We need to let it be known loud and clear that we appreciate their sacrifice. Freedom was gained and maintained at a great cost– the suffering and lives of great men and women who loved country more than life, and were willing to give all for the sake of others. We must never allow that to go unnoticed.

George Washington said,”The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, is directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated.” That being the case, on this special day we want it to be known that we view our veterans as the true heroes, deserving of all honor and respect.

Someone said, “Thanksgiving is a day when we pause to give thanks for the things we have. Veteran’s Day is a day when we pause to give thanks to the people who fought for the things we have!”. So, to all our vets, regardless of where or how you served, I say,”Thank you!” from the bottom of my heart.
 Thank you for–
–putting all your plans on hold, so the rest of us could pursue our dreams,
–the time you spent away from your family and friends, while the rest of us enjoyed their company,
–the rigorous training you were subjected to in preparation for your assignment,
–the difficulties you experienced and never wrote home about,
–the fears you faced as you stepped on foreign soil for the first time, not knowing if you would ever return home,
–the hardships you endured over and over, day after day,
–the long days, sleepless nights, lousy food, and uncomfortable gear you had to wear– so we could be comfortable,
–the dangers you faced, so that others wouldn’t be in danger,
–the problems you’ve faced since returning home, because you willing left home to serve,
–the scars, seen and unseen, that came about all because you wanted to protect the rest of us!

I simply cannot say it enough times and in enough ways–Thanks Soldier! May God bless you and may God bless the United States of America!
–David Stone

I suspect that what I am about to say will seem harsh and  meet with criticism from some–but, here goes. The election is over and the least qualified, most dishonest, worst candidate won. America has spoken and America got it wrong! We are now headed full-steam ahead down the wrong road,a road from which we might never return.

While everyone points to 2008 as a watershed date in American history, Obama’s re-election in 2012 is of much greater significance. In 2008 all people knew was that Obama was black and that he wasn’t George Bush. That was all they needed to know to put him in office. The fact that he never had a real job, or experience, or that nobody was even sure of where he was born, made no difference to people. They finally got the “hero” they had been looking for. However, in 2012 Americans knowingly, willfully, cheerfully cast their vote for socialism. Without a shot being fired, with the help of Hollywood and the news media, America adopted the socialist ideology. The America we once knew is no longer. “The fat lady” has sung and the party is over. So, how do you feel about that?

Since that sad day when America cast it’s vote for socialism, and what our country can do for us has become more important to us than what we can do for our country, preachers across the country have been talking about what our attitude should be, how we should respond. Quite frankly, most of what I hear makes me sick! I keep hearing,”I,m disappointed, but I’m not bitter, nor in despair”, “I’m not worried, God is on His throne. He is in control and He will use this for good”, “We can disagree without being disagreeable”, “I don’t consider those on the other side as enemies”, blah, blah, blah! In other words, Let’s all gather around the campfire, hold hands, and sing “Kumbaya my lord”.

Baloney! I am more than disappointed, I’m angry! Yes, I hear your warning about the “sin not part”, but maybe you ought to give some attention to the “Be ye angry”(Eph. 4:26) part–that’s an imperative. Doesn’t it seem strange that the very people who get all bent out of shape because of a scratch on their new car, or their favorite team loses a game, show no emotion and display no anger over the fact that 50 million babies are slaughtered, or that our nation is drowning in debt, or that Americans in Benghazi are murdered while our government ignores their cries for help. Yes, I am angry and you ought to be!

How can you watch the hellish Hollywood crowd, the corrupt news media, Muslims, communists, and those who despise our constitution celebrate their victory and not be angry? You need to get a backbone! I’m sick and tired of the most intolerant people on earth accusing Christians of being intolerant, just because we believe what the Bible teaches. I’m sick and tired of the public schools re-writing history so they can brain-wash our children. I get angry when I see our constitution being trampled on, our heroes being murdered, companies being taxed out of business, “Obama-care” shoved down our throat, our children’s future being jeopardized by out of control spending and ever increasing debt. And all the while you see Obama supporters celebrating at cocktail parties– hoisting their glasses high toasting their messiah. You bet I’m angry!

I can hear some of you warning me,”You’ve got to be careful that you don’t go overboard and let your anger cause you to sin”, and I agree. But, while it troubles me that many have responded in a poor manner (refusing to fly the flag, flying the flag upside down, making threats,etc.), I am also troubled by those who don’t respond at all, as though all is well. For them it’s, the election is over, now it’s back to business as usual. Dear friend at the rate we’re going there won’t be any “business” except government business. How can anyone who cares about their country not care about her condition? How can we not respond when we see the awful state she’s in? How can we not be angry?

If this offends you I’m NOT sorry! If you can’t get angry over what has happened to our nation something is missing–a heart and a backbone! Anger is not something to be despised. God hates sin and is “angry with the wicked every day”(Psalm 7:11). It’s time that God’s people got good and mad regarding the enemy’s efforts to tear down all that is good, decent, and holy. “Sin not”, yes indeed, but “be ye angry”–absolutely. Think about it!

As we face the choice of a new president and consider the sad condition of our nation, and wonder how did we get in this mess, perhaps it would do us good to think about this article.This speech was broadcast by legendary ABC Radio commentator Paul Harvey on  April 3, 1965:

If I were the Devil . . . I mean, if I were the Prince of Darkness, I would of course, want to engulf the whole earth in darkness. I would have a third of its real estate and four-fifths of its population, but I would not be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree, so I should set about however necessary to take over the United States. I would begin with a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: “Do as you please.” “Do as you please.”   To the young, I would whisper, “The Bible is a myth.” I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around. I would confide that what is bad is good, and what is good is “square”.  In the ears of the young marrieds, I would whisper that work is debasing, that cocktail parties are good for you. I would caution them not to be extreme in religion, in patriotism, in moral conduct. And the old, I would teach to pray. I would teach them to say after me: “Our Father, which art in Washington” . . .

If I were the devil, I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting so that anything else would appear dull an uninteresting. I’d threaten T.V. with dirtier movies and vice versa. And then, if I were the devil, I’d get organized. I’d infiltrate unions and urge more loafing and less work, because idle hands usually work for me. I’d peddle narcotics to whom I could. I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction. And I’d tranquilize the rest with pills. If I were the devil, I would encourage schools to refine yound intellects but neglect to discipline emotions . . . let those run wild. I would designate an athiest to front for me before the highest courts in the land and I would get preachers to say “she’s right.” With flattery and promises of power, I could get the courts to rule what I construe as against God and in favor of pornography, and  thus, I would evict God from the courthouse, and then from the school house, and then from the houses of Congress and then, in His own churches I would substitute psychology for religion, and I would deify science because that way men would become smart enough to create super weapons but not wise enough to control them.

If I were Satan, I’d make the symbol of Easter an egg, and the symbol of Christmas, a bottle. If  I were the devil, I would take from those who have and I would give to those who wanted, until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious. And then, my police state would force everybody back to work. Then, I could separate families, putting children in uniform, women in coal mines, and objectors in slave camps. In other words, if I were Satan, I’d just keep on doing what he’s doing.

Paul Harvey, Good Day.