Saturday, November 24, 2012

One Wrong Decision



Jenny was so happy about the house they had found.
For once in her life ’twas on the right side of town.
She unpacked her things with such great ease.
As she watched her new curtains blow in the breeze.

How wonderful it was to have her own room.
School would be starting, she’d have friends over soon.
There’d be sleep-over’s, and parties; she was so happy
It’s just the way she wanted her life to be.

On the first day of school, everything went great.
She made new friends and even got a date!
She thought, “I want to be popular and I’m going to be,
Because I just got a date with the star of the team!”

To be known in this school you had to have a clout,
And dating this guy would sure help her out.
There was only one problem stopping her fate.
Her parents had said she was too young to date.

“Well I just won’t tell them the entire truth.
They won’t know the difference; what’s there to lose?”
Jenny asked to stay with her friends that night.
Her parents frowned but said, “All right.”

Excited, she got ready for the big event
But as she rushed around like she had no sense,
She began to feel guilty about all the lies,
But what’s a pizza, a party, and a moonlight ride?

Well the pizza was good, and the party was great,
But the moonlight ride would have to wait.
For Jeff was half drunk by this time.
But he kissed her and said that he was just fine.

Then the room filled with smoked and Jeff took a puff.
Jenny couldn’t believe he was smoking that stuff.
Now Jeff was ready to ride to the point
But only after he’d smoked another joint.

They jumped in the car for the moonlight ride,
Not thinking that he was too drunk to drive.
They finally made it to the point at last,
And Jeff started trying to make a pass.

A pass is not what Jenny wanted at all
(and by a pass, I don’t mean playing football.)
“Perhaps my parents were right….maybe I am too young.
Boy, how could I ever, ever be so dumb.”

With all of her might, she pushed Jeff say away:
“Please take me home, I don’t want to stay.”
Jeff cranked up the engine and floored the gas.
In a matter of seconds they were going too fast.

As Jeff drove on in a fit of wild anger,
Jenny knew that her life was in danger.
She begged and pleaded for him to slow down,
But he just got faster as they neared the town.

“Just let me get home! I’ll confess that I lied.
I really went out for a moonlight ride.”
Then all of a sudden, she saw a big flash.
“Oh God, Please help us! We’re going to crash!”

She doesn’t remember the force of impact.
Just that everything all of a sudden went black.
She felt someone remove her from the twisted rubble,
And heard, “Call an ambulance! These kids are in trouble!”

Voices she heard . . . a few words at best.
But she knew there were two cars involved in the wreck.
Then wondered to herself if Jeff was all right,
And if the people in the other car was alive.

She awoke in the hospital to faces so sad.
“You’ve been in a wreck and it looks pretty bad.”
These voices echoed inside her head,
As they gently told her that Jeff was dead.

They said “Jenny, we’ve done all we can do.
But it looks like we’re going to lose you too.”
“But the people in the other car!? “Jenny cried.
“We’re sorry, Jenny, they also died.”

Jenny prayed, “God, forgive me for what I’ve done
I only wanted to have just one night of fun.”
Tell those people’s family, I’ve made their lives dim,
And wish I could return their families to them.”

“Tell Mom and Dad I’m sorry I lied,
And that it’s my fault so many have died.
Oh, nurse, won’t you please tell them that for me?”
The nurse just stood there — she never agreed.

But took Jenny’s hand with tears in her eyes.
And a few moments later Jenny died.
A man asked the nurse, “Why didn’t you do your best
To bid that girl her one last request?”

She looked at the man with eyes so sad.
“Because the people in the other car were her mom and dad.”


Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

The USS America

From my inbox





THE USS AMERICA - WHETHER TO ABONDON SHIP?

The fame of the Ttanic was that it was thought to be unsinkable; the Titanic's fame today is that it sank.


Many on board the USS America today believe it is time to head for the lifeboats, that we hit a fatal iceberg of November 6, 2012. Questions today include whether it might be possible for states to pull out of the Union? Or what if one hundred million conservatives moved to help guide the futures of countries like Canada or Australia?

On that 1912 maiden Titanic voyage was the Scottish evangelist, John Harper. His wife had died and Harper and his daughter, Nana, were traveling to Chicago where he was to become the pastor of the Moody Church. As the boat began to sink, he put Nana in a lifeboat, than ran throughout the ship, yelling "Women, children, and unsaved into the lifeboats!" He gave his lifejacket to another passenger. Survivors from that tragedy report that Harper floating on the icy waters called, "Man, are you saved?" A man cried back, "No I’m not!" Harper pleaded, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved!" The waters carried him away and when he returned he said, "Are you saved now?" The man called, "No, I cannot honestly say that I am!" Harper repeated, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." Soon, John Harper went down but the other man survived. Later he shared, "There, alone in the night, and with two miles of water under me, I believed. I am John Harper’s last convert."

As passengers of the USS America today, how many will abandon ship? If we have met that fatal iceberg, how many will perish?

The Titanic exhibit includes a wall of names. One passenger list is long and one is short, the longer list has the names of the lost, the shorter list is of the saved - no third list. The Bible has like another wall of the broad way of the lost, versus the few who find the narrow way to heaven. Is not John Harper’s message clear?

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). What is the opposite of believing? - to trust in anything else for your destiny except Jesus Christ. What is the opposite of “saved”?- to be lost forever!

With these dangers poising before us, which list has your name on it today? Have you been rescued by the One whose Spirit comes to warn you of a certain end, the One who suffered in your place to take the penalty for your sin? Would your name be like chiseled forever on the wrong list? Friend, there is still time to heed the words of the great Scottish evangelist to trust in the Lord, and as if to move your name from the long list to the saved. Will you put your life into the hands of the great Rescuer from your sin, or would you resist as to hang onto the debris of a sinking ship and try to save yourself? Now is still your chance to move your name to safety.

And to the believers, while the values and security of our nation have been sinking all around you, what will you do when your time has become surely short? John Harper was never distracted from his mission for God.

Monday, November 12, 2012

Christian Democrats -

From my Inbox


CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS - or more importantly, who are you before God? (some “in-house” considerations).

In disappointment, I wonder whatever is DEDICATION TO CHRIST but to DEFECT FROM CHRISTIANS? I'm not angry nor to judge motives, knowing anyone can misread situations. We all do. Already, serious choices are quickly affecting the body of Christ, and not without warning. Are you aware of the new assault against Hobby Lobby? The problem explained:
"The Obama administration told a federal court today that the Christian business Hobby Lobby must obey the HHS mandate that forces religious companies to pay for drugs for women that may cause abortions."

God wants to know, a rhetorical question: Can anyone be for Jesus while living against Him? Or as Jesus asked, can we live for money, thinking we are living for God? Can disciples love life, choosing death to the unborn? Do we support the body of Christ while destroying people's godly values or their financial future?

This election is past, so let it rest, but the future is before us. Living in a culture of many watered down churches, faith is being put to the test. In a similar position as imposed upon Hobby Lobby of your financial future or your convictions, what will you do? Facing sure consequences ahead of us from the new definitions of "hate speech", what will you do? Friend, Daniel's character was determined because he had purposed to live for God BEFORE he faced the challenges of Babylon. Forced between ungodly values and God, he knew exactly what to do.

While we might not care to thank our brothers in Christ for our national leaders today, we thank God! While the pressures are building against Christians in the new America, believer friend, these become our opportunities to bring glory to God through the resolve to make righteous choices.

Daniel was never a Bible hero because he failed to choose for God. When tempted to wander and compromise the inspired Word of God, what will you do? And if you have been deceived, why must you be deceived again? The challenges are coming so what will you do? If you messed up in the past, then today can mark a new beginning in your life. Here we are on earth now but standing before God in one of His tomorrows. So why not determine today, what will you do?
Chuck

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

2012 Election Thoughts

From my inbox



HOW TO RESPOND: Reading 1 & 2 Peter, how were believers to respond to extremely ungodly leaders like Nero? These are not Books of complaining but to emphasize our own godly responses.

“And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings.” (Dan. 2:21). The election of a president is not a misfortune or an accident, it is a divine appointment. 

“to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.” (Dan. 4:17b). The might of the Babylonian empire swallowed up Israel but the God of Israel is King of Kings and Lord of Lords! History is His-story!

“till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.” (Daniel 4:25b)

“And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?” (Dan. 4:35)

“For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.” (Psalm 75:6-7)

God raises up rulers, good and bad! He put Pharaoh in power. “And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.” (Ex. 9:16). Yet God holds nations responsible for their actions. When leaders turn from God, God moves in judgment against that nation. 

Even proud and sinful Nebuchadnezzar was used as a servant of God. “I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me. And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him. And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son's son, until the very time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him.” (Jer. 27:5-7)

We like to blame elected officials for our problems, but nations get the governments that they deserve. Every one of us is responsible to influence our nation.

In "Why Democracies Fail": "Democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover they can vote themselves largesse (lar-jis - a gift generously given) out of the public treasure. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefit from the public treasury, with the result that democracy always collapses over a loose fiscal policy, always to be followed by a dictatorship, and then a monarchy."

Thanks Bro. Chuck