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4 Take away the dross from silver,
And it will go to the silversmith for jewelry.
5 Take away the wicked from before the king,
And his throne will be established in righteousness.
I consistently read a proverb a day kind of like vitamins to build my spiritual immunity. I was reading in proverbs 25 when I passed a scripture that just stood out to me. The main scriptures that provoked a variety of thoughts in my head was verses 4 and 5 quoted above. In my words I read these scriptures, “buff out the dirt, grime, filth from silver and its ready to be sold for a nice prize. In the same way take away, buff out the wicked in a society and the ruler will rule with ease and shine.” Then I thought “why would the ruler’s throne be established in righteousness, if its the people that changed, not the ruler?” This immediately called to mind a quote from James Garfeild the twentieth President of the United States, he said;
“Now more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature…. If the next centennial does not find us a great nation … it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces.”
In a nutshell he says, “the hearts of the people will be reflected in the leaders they choose.”
It seems in America as Christians and possibly abroad we place so much emphasis on our leaders as though they can bring the change. We seem to believe one man in his limited power will turn our nation back to righteousness. We somehow envision a President that will come into office with all the right morals we hold to and will make our nation righteous again, but this belief is fairly distorted. It is not the character of the President that just places him in office, it’s the collective passions of the people that choose leaders.
This concept causes me to think God is far less interested in our politics than we would like to believe. Not that he is completely removed because I know He cares for anything we care for despite its enormity or minuteness. I am a full blown believer God works behind the scenes of the White house, courts, and in Congress. I’m convinced God exalts certain men to office and brings some out, but He is not a puppet master.
I’m a firm believer and advocate in standing up for the laws of nature and natures God. Thus when legislation is enacted that contradicts and infringes upon my inalienable rights it is my duty to protest such actions. For an example, I feel impressed to raise my voice for the unborn who never have a chance to speak. To oppose lies fashioned as the truth that will lead to the nations demise.
Although these things are combatted on a national, state, and local level, there is a realm beyond sight that ensures the victory. I’m all for Christians being involved in politics but there need to be an understanding †”we wrestle not against flesh and blood”. The understanding that true change comes through belief in the work of the cross. Now, if law has the ability to turn peoples attention to the cross, lets use it! We use music, media, and everything else, why not law? Legislation in itself won’t change mens hearts for better but should we just allow it to be used for the worse?
Law in its proper place is a good thing and should evoke a gratitude towards our maker for such a gift. I find laws and guns to have a lot in common. Like guns, laws are great for protection, yet outside the use of defense they cause problems. So be involved but be motivated by a greater Kingdom that can not pass away. All hearts are to be governed by the King of Kings ultimately although this is not a universal belief. In closing I would say don’t build a bomb shelter until Christ comes to escape the wickedness of the world. Nor should we attempt to cure an eternal illness with the temporal tools of legislation. What do you think on the topic?
Should Christians be involved in Government?
†Ephesians 6:12
By admin
I just love the nature of such a question, and its ability to cause us to just stop and examine ourselves. For me it has been a pretty intense and thorough examination these past 3 months. I have lost a job, lost a friend, lost the use of my car, entered into 2 legal battles, and nearly lost my mind. Yet in that weird oxymoronic/ paradoxical God kind a way, my weakness and inability to fix my circumstances has empowered me beyond belief . From the outside you see weakness everything going down, yet inwardly strength is increasing for overcoming. Actually I’m taking Paul’s thunder with that last statement as He spoke by the direction of the Holy Spirit in 2 Corinthian 4:16,17;
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” ( NKJV)
Nonetheless, getting back to my title I have really had to take stock of where I have invested my heart through my present circumstances. Jesus said, †”Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Therefore what you care for you will invest into and the measure is dependent upon how much you value that thing. I envision our choices as currency and our hearts as stock. There are several businesses, corporations, and ideas we can invest into, the Kingdom of God being one. What I have noticed in this season of my life is I had more stock invested into my job, my relationships, and other ventures than I realized. Thus when these figurative stocks went on the decline so did my heart and comfort with them. My mind, will, and emotions said, “freak out, throw in the towel, move to the Guatemala or something”, but my spirit said, “stand and advance.”
In my calculations I would say I had a good 75-80% invested in the kingdom, maybe 15% in my job, and 5% in relationships? (This girl was very pretty :p). Honestly, I don’t know the calculations but I do know I needed to take stock of my heart and what I had invested in outside of the Kingdom of God. Christ said, º”Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” Yet we sometimes read this verse “Seek first all these others things while staying busy in the Kingdom of God.” Unfortunately, this doesn’t fly with God because God is the ultimate investor and when He invests He expects a return. Gods plans for our lives far surpasses the satisfaction and freedom our man made plans can bring us in a million lifetimes.
In these times of hardships where it seems everyone is going through “it” we need to stop and evaluate, take stock, and refocus. We need to ask ourselves who are we truly living for with our busy school and work schedules? How dead are we to our own agendas and alive to God? What if the things we depended on just stopped? Nothing wrong with any of these things but we must ensure our motivations are congruent with Gods. This is just a pit stop we need to consistently pull into in the race of life. Don’t let the smooth ride fool you we all need times of reevaluation. No one is exempt from accidents or testing unless your not really in the race in the first place…
where are you looking from?
†Matthew 6:21
ºMatthew 6:33
By admin
So, I sat down to write and ramble about myself a bit and decided to create a new Category of writings labeled “Late night Ramblings.” The title is self explanatory, I basically just ramble about the things I feel and the observations of my day. I already have quite a collection thanks to an old lady friend. I am so glad God chose to make me a man, and that’s all I say about that for now. Nonetheless, I just felt to share a bit about myself and what makes me, me. Spent longer than I should have designing an image for the category so this “should” be short.
To start off I was born at 5:55 on September 5th as the sun rose and the stars of heaven hid their Glory. Angel voices echoed in the firmament and the winds of the earth chose uncharted paths. All of creation arose from their slumber inwardly knowing someone great had been born, okay I quit. 
So, not sure why I shared that other than it sounds cool and extremely epic. I want to avoid writing an autobiography so I’ll just enlighten you all on the type of person I am. I would say I am a thinker for sure, this is a quality I love and sometimes hate. Being someone who constantly thinks I have the tendency to think too much. For an example, I’ll have a conversation with someone and before they can respond to what I have stated I’ve already mapped out what their response is. This gets weird when your answering questions they have yet to ask you. Also with this quality I am prone to categorize people based upon their actions and responses to circumstances. Although I’m not one to judge I can be quite the character police and find weaknesses in peoples character. I’m a fixer so I take it personal when people don’t let me help them. It would be like telling a mechanic he can’t touch you car when He knows how to fix it. I am the most thoughtful when it comes to myself though. I examine my every thought and actions, and constantly ask myself, why did I do that? Why did I respond that way? What is my main motivation behind what I am doing? I am the scientist as well as the lab rat in my life, no thought or motivation of the heart goes unchecked.
I can also be deathly honest, without being rude though. There is such a freedom in being transparent with others and yourself. I believe this stems from my relationship with God, I’m transparent with Him because I realize He um, Kinda knows all things The Knowledge that my heart is right with God, I’m enabled to be honest with everyone else. Usually when I am explaining my personality to others I tell this little scenario. Here it goes: So I’m seated in a waiting room area at a doctors office with a group of people. Then walks in a man with a missing arm and large scars on his face. Everyone gets tense and avoids staring as to not make him uncomfortable, but not me. I’m the guy that looks at him and imagines what happened to Him. Once the imagination starts my curiosity runs along with it and I’m pressed to ask this man “what happened to your arm and face? This may also be the child inside of me as well children never have trouble asking uncomfortable questions.
Well I’m sleepy and I have nothing else to say, places to go people to see. It’s my grandmother birthday today as well as many other friends. Shall be a good day, now it’s time to sleep!! I’ll try to stay consistent with the ramblings because all my other writing will probably have a more serious tone. Nonetheless, subscribe, comment, share, please. I’ll attempt to add a twitter roll, ,not much of a twitterer or tweeter whatever they’re called. Buenos noches and God bless.
By admin
Oh, the joy of getting older – you’ve got to love it. This launch into manhood – responsibilities, actually having to deal with the consequences of every decision – it’s priceless. Figuring out that women are like a puzzle that can’t be figured out, and still trying to figure it out, somehow… (Just kidding ladies). Honestly, in 22 years of my life I have had the highest highs and some of the lowest lows; almost been out for the count, but I am still standing and winning! Life has not been a Lilly field nor has it been a field of knife-shaped rocks and barbed wire. (Why? Randomness). Nonetheless, God has kept me and strengthened me through it all. I have overcome some big obstacles with the revelation that God hasn’t brought me this far to leave me. Despite hardships, the hopelessness I once knew is contrary to my present nature: all hope in Christ. David said it in Psalms 27:13,14 best:
“I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord”
I couldn’t possibly share all I have learned over the past 22 years, but I will share with you all some snippets of truth and phrases I have clung to through the years, starting with patience.
Yes…. waiting… There is no way to escape this lovely virtue that causes us to grit our teeth and throw grown-up temper tantrums. In a drive-thru society where everything is expected to come quick, in a snap, on the go, we miss the importance of patience. We sometimes allow the same mentality we demand for our fast food to seamlessly merge into our everyday lives and relationships. I have learned food that is cooked the slowest usually tastes the best, thus in our lives for the best results in life situations we need to learn to just wait! I have learned this year,
“One of the highest orders of discipline is when you learn to wait.”
Someone would say, “no, no, no, no, but, but, “I” have been trying, I have… I, I, me, me, ME!” My reply, “shhhhhh, just wait.”
Another word that has the ability to raise our eyebrows and cause steam to shoot from our ear lobes is obedience. Remember that time your mother told you to do something and you asked her, “Whyyyyy?” (Then you woke up seeing stars, wondering where you were, in my case). She could have asked you to clean you room, and make your bed every morning. You may think she just wants to lord over you, but she wanted to teach you responsibility. Although you don’t understand her full intention behind making you complete the task, she does; and she knows its better for you long term despite your present grief. In the same way God asks us to do things we can find no logical explanation for, therefore as my pastor says,
“Understanding always follows obedience”
If you not a Christian or deem yourself spiritual do what you know is right despite understanding. I would take a hurt heart or feelings any day over a seared conscience. Christians, if God has told you to do it, it will work out for your good, like Nike says, “Just do it.”
This concept of consistency is another one that will never leave us as long as we live. People start new tasks and business ventures every single day, but very few people stick with them to the end. I am very radical about character, and for the majority of my life I didn’t understand what it was, therefore I had none, zero, zilch, zip, and nada. It wasn’t until a guest minister stated it from the pulpit,
“It’s the consistency in a thing that produces the strength.”
I held on to this word for possibly over two years before actually understanding its importance. Here is the story behind (it will be short, hopefully). I had been asked to help out one Saturday at my church with a food ministry as well as make a college meeting hosted by our youth group, which took place simultaneously. I consented to both events, not realizing I was somehow only one person…? I got off of work that Saturday morning from and overnight shift and went to my second job that morning. I worked a few hours and was asked to stay longer with full knowledge of my other obligations, and I worked. I missed both events and I got a little character training from an assistant pastor. It was along the lines of my word being my bond, and once I give my word I’m obligated to fulfill it, no matter what. So, following this event I had the opportunity to practice being a man of my word on a stubborn lawn. Despite how much of a fight that lawn gave me, after going through 3 lawnmowers I won (the grass was really high!). Sounds stupid but I learned how to be a man of my word on that lawn, I was determined if I had to spend a week, or even die on that lawn I would get it done and I did (didn’t die and I wouldn’t really give my life for a lawn but you get the point).
There is much more I could share but I would definitely break 1,000 words and write a small book. I haven’t mastered the art of saying much with few words, just yet. These are simply a few of the things I meditate on regularly that have shaped my character. Thanks to all who wished me a Happy Birthday and gave me presents, I appreciate it. Thanks You, God Bless (comment on my blog, please )
By admin
The result of generalized legal plunder (distribution of wealth, unlawful taxes) is moral chaos precisely because law and morality have been set at odds. When law and morality contradict one another the citizen has the cruel alternative of either losing his moral sense or losing his respect for the law.
*Parenthesis mine
