Still Standing

“If indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.”  Colossians 1:23

Yes, as a person that supports the Republican views, (meaning more conservative-based thinking that focuses on firm Bible-based values and a governing head that SERVES the people) it disgusts me that the Liberal society wants to silence a television sit-com, just because the theme is based on more conservative and Christians views.  Curiously, no one seems to be complaining about the ABUNDANT amount of t.v. shows or movies that promote more liberal and even un-Christian values!  I’m not knocking every Democrat out there.  I believe that many people of the Democratic society are just as unhappy with the more Liberalist views that have branched off from this political party.

It may ruffle some feathers to reveal that God is the ultimate definition of conservative.  Think about it, before you totally go blind to reading further.  God sent a part of Himself, to serve on Earth for the people (John 3:16, 1 John 4:9).  Backbone of the conservative (or Republican) government build; which is currently used in our government, regardless of the political party of the President.  God is unchanging, which also defines a traditionalist (1 Samuel 15:29, Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:7-9). 

Again, I am NOT attempting to attack another’s view.  I am simply trying to show a place where two political parties DID share the same point of view.  Today, that common ground has been trampled on, obscured, and completely obliterated.  Jesus made choices that were very unpopular with many people, including government officials.  Did that stop Him?  Thank His Father that it didn’t!  Consider what would have happened if Jesus kept quiet, or allowed the opposing party to silence Him!  Think about what would NOT be waiting for us, after our mortal lives have ended!  No glory!  No eternity!  NO GIFT OF SALVATION!  Not an ending that I would look forward to.

I am proud for the firm spiritual foundation that was instilled in me.  While I have stumbled plenty, I have resolved to gain firmer footing in the quest that God has laid before me; becoming stronger with each step I take.  I am not wanting to convince everyone to “become conservative”.  I am asking them to embrace the unchanging values that IS GOD and to not try to silence those that support the good Christian values that God’s Word teaches us.  The second thing that I am asking:  If you don’t like a particular t.v. show, CHANGE THE CHANNEL!  I don’t like or agree with plenty of Hollywood media that hits the airwaves but, I turn it off or watch something else.  I can still find some good, value-based entertainment out there. 

As for Tim Allen, his fellow cast members, producers, etc.:  Thank you for giving us a series that returns to showing that Godly values are still appreciated and accepted by His people!  

The Shadow Knows

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.  For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”  Galatians 6:7-8

While spending a day at my grandparents’ farm, I hit pay dirt!  I found a collection of old radio broadcasts, on cassette tapes.  Gunsmoke!  The Green Hornet!  Fibber McGee & Molly!  Sherlock Holmes!  I was a kid in the candy store!  I had known about these broadcasts through my family, even listened to a few syndicated broadcasts of Dragnet with my brother.  Having these priceless treasures to listen to, I couldn’t have asked for more. 

My favorite of these old broadcasts was (and still is) The Shadow.  I managed to start collecting more of this series on tape (20 broadcasts).  The crime-solving vigilante, with the ability to “cloud men’s minds”, rendering himself invisible.  He’s just plain cool!  “Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?  The Shadow knows!”  I loved hearing that phrase, following the eerie theme song of The Spinning Wheel.  At the end of several of the shows, another line was often spoken by The Shadow: “As you sow evil, so shall you reap evil.”  Sounds like the words in Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia, doesn’t it?

Quite true that Paul and the fictitious Shadow, were saying the same thing: whatever choices you make from within your heart, and equal result will befall you.  If you choose to live a life of deceit, corruption, greed, and sinful pleasures; you can expect greed, corruption, deceit, etc. to happen to you in return.  No good will come of it.  Allowing evil to dwell in our hearts will only envelope our lives in a world that only knows evil.  The result is…well, a scorching hot outcome!

The good news is, we don’t have to look forward to that end.  We can choose to do what is desirable by God: honesty, respect, helping others, following God’s command to the letter, spreading His message and Light.  By sowing these choices, making these spiritual habits the very essence that lives inside of us, will lead us to the Promised Land.  It will lead us to that spectacular dwelling that God created, of which the apostle John was allowed to see and record for us; giving us a glimpse of the glory to come (see Revelation).  Here come those goosebumps I get every time I think about what John saw.  I want to end up there!  I want to reap a good harvest, after planting good seeds in good soil! 

Remember this, you may be able to hide certain wrongful actions and desires from those around you but God, as The Shadow says, KNOWS!

Voices of the Wise

“But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.  Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.  Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.”  Titus 2:1-3

One of my favorite country songs is performed by Chris Young, titled Voices.  It expresses a young man’s thankfulness to the sound advice from parents and grandparents, alike.  Words that stay in his head, throughout his life.  Some things may be very simplistic, while others can be a little more in-depth.  Whatever the case, they are valuable lessons that the elder passes down to the younger generation.  These MUST be taught, as much as those lessons MUST be heard.

I can certainly relate to the lyrics within this song.  Often, I find myself in a situation which I invoke the advice from either my parents, or grandparents, enabling me to hear them inside me.  We all have those moments where we hear our mom or dad’s voice, telling us what we should or should not do.  Those moments make me smile, every time.  Not exactly because my parents spoke those words of wisdom to me but, because I listened and filed those words in my mind, for future use.  It was important that those words left an imprint on me that my parents could be proud of.

In reading this passage in Titus, I want to draw attention, not to the advisor but, to the listener.  More and more, as I observe society, it seems that fewer lessons are being handed down from one generation to the next.  I could only assume that the older generation decided to give up, since the younger generation stopped listening.  It feels to me that a lot of things shouldn’t change, as the years go by.  It happens when those sensible lessons of value are lost, ceasing all together.

Like many, I was a hard-headed kid, refusing to listen at times.  You know how it goes: I’m a teenager so, I know more than my parents, now.  It’s a common mentality.  The problem is, the parents cease to teach and let the kids run free.  No guidance.  Sure, kids want to rebel as they age.  However, deep inside, they want the wisdom of the generations before them.  Some openly seek it.  Others may try to avoid it.  They want it, nonetheless. 

The greatest teachers that ANYONE has to rely on, haven’t earned education degrees.  They have experienced making good and bad choices, on their own.  They had opportunities to listen to their parent, before them.  Wisdom given to them, passing it down to the next generation. 

I will continue to hear the words of my parents, along with my grandparents.  I could not be thankful enough.  Through those lessons, a part of them lives on within me.  God willing, they will live on in my own children.