Many people, including a lot of our leaders, don’t understand our nation’s conflict with the Muslims. The following article from “Frontline” magazine is a brief and clear description of what we are facing:

 

  “For the first time in its history, the United states is trying to wage and win a war without accurately identifying the enemy or its motivations for seeking to destroy us.”  Both civilian and military leaders have failed to speak clearly about our attackers, calling them ‘militant Muslims,’ radical Islam, extremist Islam, Islamofascists, or just ‘terrorists.’  Both civilian and military leaders fail to make clear that we face a totalitarian ideology bent on our destruction.  Their intent is just as clear as that of Hitler, but more dangerous, for they consider that their mission of global conquest is divinely inspired, and they are already well dispersed among these “enemy” nations, including the United States.

 

The ‘marching orders’ for this conquest are called the Shariah.  Shariah is considered binding law.  The ultimate goal is a global Islamic state, governed by Shariah.  The means for this complete conquest is the ‘jihad.’  Many Muslims take the violent path of jihad, the acts of violence that terrorize innocent neighbors.  Others (the majority) follow the path of “stealth jihad” (dawah), but the goal is still world conquest.  These “peaceful” Musims demand recognition of their right to dress differently, to have special rights at a workplace, Shariah-compliant finance, etc.  Even an attempt to portray Mohammed can result in massive civil disruption.

 

Shariah offers nonbelievers, when they come to rule an area, three choices:  conversion to Islam, submission (dhimmitude), or death.  In reality, their anticipated global state is not “religious” but political and dictatorial in nature.  We are at war, not with Iraq or Afghanistan, but in attempted self defense because of the attitudes and actions of those who adhere to Shariah law, believing that they must impose it on the rest of us.  Al-Qaeda is an enemy, but only because they actively are endeavoring to spread Shariah law.  Our leaders need to speak clearly about the intent of Shariah and the encroachments of stealth jihad as well as militant jihad.

 

We also need to assert that certain actions are contrary to our constitution.  Native Americans were clearly instructed that the use of mind-altering drugs, customary in some of their religious ceremonies, are not permitted in our culture.  When Mormons desired to become a state, they were clearly informed that bigamy was not “religious” but socially unacceptable.  We need to find a way to make clear that Shariah is not acceptable under our constitution and in our culture.  I would like to see the state of Michigan take the lead, whether by legislation or constitutional amendment, refusing the right to vote in local, state, or national elections, for instance, to those who refuse to declare that they are not adherents to Shariah.

 

The “enemy” in our midst needs to be recognized as dangerous.  They desire to be known as “peaceful Muslims,” but only by disavowing Shariah can they be treated as other than potential conquerors.  The time has clearly come to make a far more serious effort to defeat both the violent and stealthy forms of Jihad being waged against this country.   See the full article by Frank J, Gaffney. Jr., Stealth Jihad, FrontLine Magazine, May/June 2010, reprinted from The American Legion, April 2010.

As we’ve heard many times, “The only thing we learn from history is that we don’t learn from history.” That sure seems true. Keep this in mind as you read the following:

 

“The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.”

 

That advice comes from “A Pillar of Iron”, Taylor Caldwell’s paraphrased account of speeches by Roman Senator Cicero. As you can see, man has been wrestling with the same problems for thousands of years and evidently hasn’t learned a thing. It should be obvious that America is in serious trouble–but many still don’t get it! When will they ever learn? Time will tell. Think about it!

As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day we think much about our blessings, as we should. We also give considerable thought to our nation’s problems–how could we not do so? As you reflect on the needs of our nation, I hope you will take the time to read this excellent article by Pastor Jim Elliff.

It’s rare to see kids playing sports in the neighborhood anymore. We’re now organized and “professionalized”—including uniforms, state-of-the-art facilities, endless trips to the field, competitive coaches, equally competitive parents, and the after-season tournaments designed to give parents “bleacher bottom.” In addition, you’ve got to pay to play—and when you’ve paid that much, you’ll be sure to play.

 

It is also fun, and it can be instructive. I love to watch my kids play sports. In fact, they need to play—some. But, it’s not so easy as handing over seventy bucks and saying, “Sign up Johnny and Susie this year.” Making that decision means that you may be out four to five times each week during the season. Soon sports becomes all about calendarization and control of your life—especially if you have more than one kid. Perhaps nothing outside of a change in your job has so much potential to turn the family schedule upside down.

 

“This man understands,” you say.

 

Now comes the part you won’t like: “Behold, I say unto you, you have made sports the household god.” Too strong? OK, not all of you. But the deification of sports is happening to many.

 

How does ball become Baal? Answer: When it controls you, and you give it devoted worship. It is around your god that you order your life—and you can almost never say “no” to it.

 

Like “athlete’s foot” on the hygienically-challenged teenager, sports has taken over more and more of the life of believers. Almost overnight we have awakened to the sad fact that, in many communities, sports has even usurped the hours believers meet on the Lord’s Day. All too often members are saying to church leaders, “We’ll be gone next Sunday because of the soccer tournament.” In turn, leaders are supposed to acquiesce humbly. After all, we can’t afford to appear “legalistic;” everyone knows that the greatest crime a church can commit is to demand something of someone.

 

You’ll hear, “But the team needs all the players. We can’t let the team down.” It never occurs to them that the church Body is being deprived of a necessary body part, or that God is marginalized and disobeyed. We are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, states God in Hebrews 10:25.

 

Devotion is the operative word. When the team says, “We need you,” we sacrifice to do it. But when it crosses the time allotted to spiritual edification and worship, the Ruler of the universe is often sent to the bench. In the process, we teach our children that devotion to sports is more important than both devotion to God and loyalty to our spiritual family. Have you considered that you may be teaching your kids to worship sports?

 

Here are some ways to put sports in the proper place:

 

First, decide beforehand that there will be no contest between the church’s essential activities designed for your family’s spiritual growth and what the team plans for your lives. If you will talk this over ahead of time with your child and then the coach, there will be no confusion. Through the years I’ve found that many coaches respect that decision. But, it must be a prior decision, not one made on a case by case basis. When sports conflicts with Sunday worship or youth camp or a special spiritual activity, the decision has already been made.

 

Secondly, determine that your children cannot play every sport. There is a sanctity to the home life that must be protected. You need quiet evenings at home. You need meals together. Just let your children know that you are excited about sports, but there are limits. You then determine what those limits are. For us, we attempt to have only one sport per year for each child.

 

Finally, think about some creative choices. One of my sons played basketball, but the season was interminably long. I was also traveling. So, I would be gone speaking over the weekend, then, when I was home, I was out two or more nights sitting on the sidelines watching my son practice. It was not really “time together.” This wasn’t going to work.

 

The solution came to me after prayer. I asked him if he would be willing to learn golf in the place of basketball. We could play together, along with his brother, and we could do it whenever we wanted. We could enjoy this for the rest of our lives. I’ve paid some extra money, but I’ve bought back some time with my sons and some good exercise for me also. It’s a bargain.

 

God Himself uses sports language in the New Testament. He’s not against it, unless it steals the devotion belonging to Him. All other gods have to go!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It has been quite a while since my last post, as you can tell. I wish I could write something every day, but I just don’t get it done. I started to say,”I just don’t have time”,but I’m not sure that would be honest. We all have the same amount of time.

 

I am amazed at the amount of work some people are able to get done. I guess I’m geared different. No doubt I’m a lot dumber than a lot of folks. I have to study more than some preachers do. I’ve often wished I had a memory like W.A. Criswell did. He could rattle off history, giving the dates and details, without notes better than anyone I know. Then I think of Spurgeon and the huge amount of writing he did, along with his pastoral duties and in spite of bad health. It amazes me.

 

I can think of ten times more things to do, than I am able to get done. I just can’t do them. No doubt much of the fault is mine, I could surely plan better or work harded. But some of this “failure” has to do with the way I am constituted. I am me and I can’t do certain things just because somebody can. By the way, it is the same with you. We are all different. God never intended for us to be like someone else.

 

Not being able to do all we would like, or what others expect from us, can be very frustrating. We can make ourselves miserable trying to do things that God never intended for us to do. Give yourself a break, accept who you are, do the best you can with what you’ve got, and leave the rest with God. His only criteria for judging our service is faithfulness and that requires different things from different people. We aren’t in competition with anyone else. Be yourself and do your duty–that’s all God requires.

 

Perhaps these words from D. L. Moody will help you–“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And that which I can do, by the grace of God, I will do.” Think about it!

 

Falwell: Measurements of Success in Ministry Are Messed Up

 

Half of pastors would leave the ministry tomorrow if they could. Seventy percent are fighting depression and 90 percent can’t cope with the challenge of ministry.