How Can God Bless A Nation That Has Turned Its Back on Him?

I remember Tony Robbins as a guy who used to have answers for people.  To his credit, he doesn’t pretend to have answers to our nation’s problems and he does a good job in this video of putting them in perspective.

The answer to the title of this post is: “He won’t.”  If the Hebrews were taken into captivity, what makes us think we can escape it?”

Jesus is our only hope.   Will we turn back to Him?  Most of the time I think the answer is no.  I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to go home.  To live is Christ, to die is gain.  We continue to run the race until we are called home.  I think the race will be ending soon.

God’s blessings,

Chris

U.S. MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY TRUSTEES SHARE ECONOMIC FORECAST ON FRIDAY THE 13TH

Photo by Mykl Roventine

I would like to make it clear that I am not a superstitious person.  No fear of walking under a ladder on Friday the 13^th here.  In fact, I didn’t realize that it was Friday the 13^th yesterday until late in the afternoon.

Before the earthquake in Japan, I had watched little mainstream news for quite some time.  Since that event, there is so much upheaval in the world that the continuing release of radioactivity in Japan is rarely mentioned.  I have little confidence in the mainstream media, but I have been watching lately.  Mainstream priorities are very poor but one gets a view of how the world sees things.

The bad news continues.

For the Christian, there is the great equalizer:

Jesus is our hope. (1 Tim. 1:1)

I was heading to bed last night and decided to turn the T.V. on and check out C-Span for a second.  What I saw was a short, annual report by the Medicare and Social Security Trustees.

It doesn’t surprise me that Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner’s report was not included on any of the mainstream news sources that I had seen earlier in the evening. 

If I read C-Span correctly, the report was issued late last evening.  If one has to issue a report and wants the fewest ears to hear it, a Friday evening is the best time.  Weekend news is always very poorly done, so my guess is that this story will begin to get real notice next week if at all.

It is a beautiful morning in Arkansas.  At the same time, the Mississippi River is out of control and so many are still picking up the pieces of the tornadoes that swept through the South.

I have been thinking quite a bit about the first verse of Revelation 21 lately.

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away…”

I believe in the prophecies in the Bible.  I think the last two chapters are very clear if one takes Revelation as literally as I do.  Actually, the last four chapters are pretty clear.  I’ll admit that I’ve read many ideas about the “Babylon” of chapter 18 and don’t know what it is.  After Mr. Geithner’s report last night, I don’t think the United States is as great a candidate as so many internet sites state.

Regardless of how one views prophecy, most Christians believe that Jesus is coming back.  There are many scenarios about how this will happen.  I think there will be a 7 year tribulation.  I also believe in a “rapture.”

Jesus said, “Then there shall be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.” (Matt. 24:40)

I don’t pretend to know when this rapture will happen. 

My point:  It is hard for me, as a Christian, to hear a 35 minute report by the Medicare and Social Security Trustees like the one last night and not relate it to the nearness of our coming Lord.  (Of course, the fact that Israel is back in the land is a much more important sign than last night’s report.)

The monstrous debt that we have accrued has tied us to a world economy that puts us in financial situation that we used to fear militarily.  At one time we were worried about the “domino effect” that might be caused by Russian Imperialism.  Think of the repercussions if any or a few of the major nation economies collapse.  Some would say it’s not a matter of “if” but “when.”

Our experts in finance have about as much ability to forecast the future as our meteorologists.

All one has to do is listen to the short report given last night to see that. 

My question: How can God bless a nation, or a World for that matter, that has turned its back on Him?

Jesus is our hope.  He is our only hope.

If you haven’t placed your hope and trust in Jesus, I would hope that you would do it today.  He is coming soon.

Chris Reimers

Click here to see the announcement.

Here’s the press release from C-Span:

Medicare and Social Security Trustees report says Social Security and Medicare will run out of money sooner than anticipated.  The annual report, which provides an update on the solvency and cost of the two entitlement programs, blames the sluggish economy for the changes.

The Hospital Insurance fund, which pays for hospital stays of Medicare recipients, will run out in 2024, five years earlier than last year’s report estimate. The Social Security Trust Fund will be exhausted in 2036. When the trust fund runs dry, Social Security benefits do not stop but decrease by 22%
 
The entitlement programs, which cover one-third of the U.S. population, account for a growing piece of the budget. As Washington and the public express concern with the size of the deficit, this report by the Board of Trustees will influence how they fit into the budget debate.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said Medicare reforms “will be needed.”

In his health care speech Thursday, potential presidential candidate Mitt Romney (R-MA) said making Medicare solvent should be a top priority but did not offer any specifics of how he would do it.

In 2009, nearly 57 million people received Social Security benefits and 46 million people received Medicare benefits.

Last year’s report found that long-term Social Security solvency was largely unchanged, but the 75-year outlook for Medicare improved “substantially” because of the passage of the health care law. Before the passage of health care, Medicare benefits were expected to decrease as early as 2016.

The Board of Trustees consists of six people, the Treasury Secretary, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Labor and the Social Security Commissioner. The final two members are public employees appointed by the President. 

Click here to see the announcement.
 

http://www.c-span.org/Events/Trustees-Key-Medicare-Program-Will-Exhaust-in-2024/10737421514/

A SAD DAY IN ARKANSAS

Ruins of the Ancient City of Tyndaris/Photo by Starbuck Powersurge

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Contact: Jerry Cox, 501-375-7000

Today, the Arkansas Supreme Court ignored the voice of 57% of the voters—nearly 580,000 people—and ruled in favor of a lower court’s opinion striking down Act One, the Arkansas Adoption and Foster Care Act. This good law prevented unmarried, cohabiting couples from serving as adoptive or foster parents.

 “This is a classic example of judicial tyranny,” said Family Council Action Committee President Jerry Cox. “We have said all along that Act One was about child welfare, and fifty-seven percent of the voters in 2008 agreed. They declared that the State of Arkansas has an obligation to adoptive and foster children to ensure that they are placed in the best possible homes. The Arkansas Supreme Court has chosen to run roughshod over the people’s will and refused to uphold a good law that protected the children in the state’s care.”

Cox said, “I’d like to personally thank the 75 county coordinators and 2,700 volunteers who helped gather signatures to get Act One on the ballot. They worked hard to gather over 100,000 signatures between January and August of 2008. It is because of their dedication that this good law made it on the ballot and passed in 73 counties. I will be forever grateful to everyone who put time and effort into this worthy initiative.

“Today’s ruling was anti-child,” said Cox. “The ACLU couldn’t defeat this good law in a fair election, so they used the court system against the people of Arkansas. This is the worst decision ever handed down by the Arkansas Supreme Court.

Family Council Action Committee is a conservative 501(c)(4) organization based in Little Rock, Arkansas.

—————————————————

It is a very sad day in Arkansas.  Ungodly laws continue to sweep across our nation, and this one is personal.  I guess, if you are a Christian, they are all personal.  Only bad can result from reckless abandon of the principles found in God’s Word.

I spent hours helping Jerry Cox get enough signatures to get this law before the people of Arkansas.  It was important to me because children are important to me.  Unfortuantely, many churches turned down my invitation to help get this initiative on the ballot.  Fortunately, enough people signed petitions to get this on the ballot in 2008.

And now the unfortunate events described above have occured.  If you want to see the news release issued above at the Arkansas Family Council’s website click here.

I would like to thank Jerry and, along with him, thank the many folks who tried.

Chris Reimers

Related story in the Christian Post here.

GLENN BECK EMBRACES NEW AGE THEOLOGY

Polaris, the Pole Star/ Photo by StevieP187

It appears that those who have been critical of Mr. Beck are right.

This article, by Brannon Howse, sheds light on the true Glenn Beck.  I have been following both sides of this story for some time.

I know that many Christians have been happy with Mr. Beck.

There are also those who have had concerns.

Those with concerns have been correct.

Mr. Beck has made his opinions clearer in a new book.

Mr. Howse gives a critical review of the book in this article.

I’ve heard Mr. Beck and I’ve heard Mr. Howse.  I trust Mr. Howse more than I trust Mr. Beck.

If I find that the quotes that Mr. Howse has used in this article are incorrect, I will remove this post and apologize to Mr. Beck.

I think this post is here to stay.

Why would Mormons not be turning to mysticism when so many Protestants are?

I have been doing research on strange, mystical practices in Protestant churches and have been quite surprised at what I’ve found.

The research is ongoing, but I eventually plan to summarize my findings here.

Admittedly, I haven’t read the book to which Mr. Howse is referring.

If any readers of this post have read the book, I would love your thoughts on the matter.

Here are two quotes from Mr. Beck’s new book.  I think they speak volumes.

“You have a polestar inside you. It is connected with all the energy in the universe. When you begin to follow that star you align yourself with immeasurable, inexplicable forces that will actually help you manifest your best intentions.” (Page 79)

“Pray to whatever higher power you believe in…Praying that God or Nature or the Cosmos or your own internal, immeasurable reservoir of spirit allows you the courage and faith to find and then face the truth…” (Page 132)

God’s Word is clear.  Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life…”  It is about God.  There is no “polestar” inside of us.  The nature and attributes of God aren’t arbitrary.

Anyone who believes, like Mr. Beck, that we can “Pray to whatever…and then face the truth” does not believe that the Bible is the Word of God.

Chris Reimers

Note:  I looked up John 14:6, the verse quoted above, in “The Message” “Bible.”  This is what it says:

^6-7Jesus said, “I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him. You’ve even seen him!”

After reading numerous comments about Christians who have concerns with “The Message,” I am in agreement that it is not the Bible you want to be reading.  The subtle (as above) and not so subtle changes are obvious and include occult terminology.

Click here and see.

The “As above, so below” that takes the place of “On earth as it is in heaven” IN THE LORD’S PRAYER is terminology from the occult lexicon.  I have not only seen this at “Click here,” but I have heard it from folks who have come out of the New Age movement.

“SNOWMAGEDDON” – DAY TWO

Can you spot the bird?

Two “sort of” personal posts in a row? Yep.  It’s an unusual thing here at the Wings of the Wind.

There are much more important matters to be edited.

But what could they be?

News has arrived that there will be a second unplanned day at home with the family because of an Act of God.  Too few daddies spend too little time with their families these days and I’m the first to say that my record in this area is not a spotless one.

So, pardon me if the snowball fight is so intense that this blog goes unattended for awhile.

-CR

Bird Tracks

WE INTERRUPT THIS PROGRAM…

The plans of nearly everyone in a four state area have been interrupted.

For almost a week they told us it was coming.  We listened to them with reservation because the experts have been consistently wrong lately.

This time the meteorologists were right.  One guy went a bit far, predicting what he called “Snowmageddon.”  We got 4-7 inches and it was snow, not the snow/ice mix we get a few times a year.

If Arkansas gets four inches of snow, the place shuts down.

Most of those in the North would consider us snow-challenged.

My better half has been teaching her little students about winter and today they will have a home-based field trip.  Snowmen will be everywhere.

The teen son is whistling. He doesn’t ever whistle on a Monday morning when school is facing him.  The words “No school” bring a joy that only a child (and many teachers) can understand.

The teen daughter will reschedule her biannual appointment with her transplant doctor.  How many doctors are looking out their windows this morning and sound just like my son?

And then there’s yours truly.   No complaints here.  The clients will have to wait (with bated breath I’m sure).

I’m sitting here, as I type, eating a plate of hash browns and eggs.  The potatoes have just the right gob of ketchup on them, the scrambled eggs made with cheddar and salsa.  There’s so much here I’m going to eat half and save the rest for dinner.

I have just been handed a side dish of sliced pears.

“I got them on sale,” she says.

How I ended up with a wife who has so many talents I’ll never know.  The homemade breakfast thumps the usual Monday morning fare.

Blueberries love the snow

I usually throw a handful of oatmeal in a bowl and pour some boiling water on it. A few chocolate chips and a sprinkle of cinnamon and I’m happy.  A spoonful of peanut butter is added to the menu if I feel I haven’t had enough protein lately.

It’s quick and easy, fits the program, and is supposed to lower the bad cholesterol.

Days like this one are rare.

We have been forced to change our plans.

It is a wonderful thing.

Snow always reminds me of God’s grace.  I might not have this opinion had I grown up in Minnesota.  Nevertheless, there’s something about layers of water in a pure white fluffy form that creates a covering.  God’s creation is the ultimate object lesson.

¹How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered!

God used David to pen these words and used Paul to repeat them (Romans 4:7).

As soon as man messed up, God had a plan to cover his sins (Gen. 3:15).

So…who qualifies to have their sins “covered?”

John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world…”

It couldn’t be clearer.  Everyone qualifies.  The snow is covering the houses of believers and unbelievers alike.  Jesus died for everyone, even those who will never believe.

“that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

¹⁸“Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the LORD,
“Though your sins are as scarlet,
They will be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They will be like wool.”

Our schedules have been interrupted.

It is an opportunity.

The great prophet knew, hundreds of years before the Messiah came, that forgiveness was possible.  The first chapter of Isaiah says it well:  “Come…”

The crimson stain can be removed.  It can be as white as snow.

⁸“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.

⁹If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John)

What a beautiful day it is.

Chris Reimers

ALL GOD’S CRITTERS GOT A PLACE IN THE CHOIR

“Lippy” by Benson Kua

...some sing low, some sing higher, some sing out loud on the telephone wire and some just clap their hands, or paws, or anything they got now.

Take the title of this post and add the last line and you’ve got the opening line of a praise song.

You’ve probably heard of the mass deaths of different types of wildlife.  There has been much speculation about the causes of these deaths which have now occurred on almost every continent.

One thing is sure.  God knows what is causing the mysterious events.

Is it a sign of the last days?

I don’t know.

One of my favorite people under 12 shared this picture with me this week.

Carter Kimery said, “Chris, you’ve got to see this.  It’s a huge gold fish.”

It was a pretty amazing picture of one of God’s creatures and quite good timing on Carter’s part.  I needed to see a picture of a very healthy fish.

We know that someday a third of the creatures in the sea will die (Rev. 8:9).

What we are seeing is definitely not that.

Some Christians I know speculated that the gulf oil spill was the sea “blood” mentioned in Rev. 8:8.

Because I believe that the Seals and Trumpets of Revelation occur in sequence, I figured that the oil spill wasn’t the event described in Rev. 8:8.

Revelation 7:1 says that the wind will stop someday.  That is an event that hasn’t taken place yet and since it preceeds 8:8,  I thought I had good reason to doubt those who said the spill was the sea “blood.”

What did Jesus say about the last days?

“The disciples came to Him privately, saying,

“Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and the end of the age?” (Matt 24:3)

One could argue that the next ten verses have already taken place.  I don’t think they have taken place to the degree that they will eventually.

For those of you who study this sort of thing, the event that Jesus describes in Matthew 24:15 is MAJOR.

So much for my opinion.

Here’s God’s opinion:

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Eph. 2:8-9)

Chris Reimers

CONTRACEPTIVE HANDOUTS INCREASE ABORTION RATES

“Puzzled” by Radioflyer007

So…you don’t believe the title of this post.

O.K….here’s “only the facts” ma’am.

Over a ten year period between 1997 and 2007, a survey of about 2,000 women in Spain found that the use of contraceptives increased from about 50 percent to nearly 80 percent of women.

Isn’t the increased use of contraceptives supposed to decrease the abortion rate?

Evidently not.

During the same period, Spain’s abortion rate more than doubled.

The findings were published in the January 2011 issue of Contraception.

The researchers were puzzled by the results.  Here is the study’s conclusion statement:

CONCLUSIONS: The factors responsible for the increased rate of elective abortion need further investigation.

My translation:  “We don’t have a clue why abortions increased when contraception use increased.”

This article in LifeSiteNews points out that:

“Pro-lifers have long argued that contraception results in greater sexual activity and, because contraception fails so consistently, in more “unwanted” pregnancies.  This in turn leads to more abortions.”

It is no secret that our youth are being encouraged more than ever to use contraceptives.  Not only does this encouragement send the wrong message, it apparently doesn’t work.

The abortion industry thinks it works. Abortionists make millions of dollars every year by killing the most innocent humans on the planet.

“Planned Parenthood received a banner $363.2 million in government funding during the 2008-2009 fiscal year, its most recent annual reporting period — a $13.6-million increase in grants and contracts over the previous fiscal year.”

For more on how information on how your tax dollars are being spent on abortion, click here.

Want to know the salary of Planned Parenthood’s President?  Click here.

The study noted in this post surveyed women from 15-49 years of age.  Some might argue that the inclusion of not-so-young women would negate any conclusion about the “effectiveness” statistics contraceptives had among young adults.  I would argue that older folks would tend to be more “careful,” thus making the numbers among the young even worse.

There is only one perfect contraceptive. We certainly don’t hear it endorsed in most of the “stuff” our youth are “fed” these days.

The study, entitled Trends in the use of contraceptive methods and voluntary interruption of pregnancy in the Spanish population during 1997-2007, can be found here.

I  recommend that everyone read the article that was printed here, yesterday.

Chris Reimers

To read that 75 percent of young people in America are receiving explicit contraceptive-centered education that defines “abstinence” subjectively, click here.

“DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL” IS HISTORY

The Assyrians/Photo by pettifoggist

The U.S. Senate just voted to send a bill to President Obama to remove the “Don’t ask, Don’t Tell” restrictions that were instituted in 1993.  I have a feeling Mr. Obama will sign the bill.  The vote, 65-31, wasn’t even close.  The vote in the U.S. House of Representatives, that preceded today’s vote, was no different.  That vote was 250-175.

Five minutes ago I sadly watched another vote at the highest levels of our government, made by those who represent the residents of this once great country, that takes no consideration of Biblical principles.

Why should anyone be surprised?  When millions of Christians belong to churches that allow homosexuals to lead their “flocks,” why should anyone be startled by this decision by those whom we chose to lead us?

I do not hate homosexuals.  I don’t even dislike homosexuals.  The Bible tells me to love my neighbor, and more and more of my neighbors are homosexuals.

The trouble is that the same Bible tells me that homosexuals will not inherit the kingdom of heaven.  Like everyone else, they have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

The only difference between a homosexual and a Christian is that the Christian has turned away from their sin.

Homosexuality is a lifestyle.  It is similar to a lifestyle of idolatry, thievery, and drunkenness.   These lifestyles are unrighteous.

These are not my words.  These are the words of God.  One only need to read the 6th chapter of 1 Corinthians.

It is another sad event that has occurred within my lifetime.  I have seen it with my own eyes, and as our representatives milled about on the floor of the Senate like it was another day in America, I couldn’t help but think of a number of things.

I thought of how God allowed His people to be fleeced by the Assyrians and others when they turned their backs on Him.  I thought of how God allowed His people to be taken into captivity when they turned their backs on Him.  I thought of how God allowed His peoples’ places of worship to be destroyed when they turned their backs on Him.

We have turned our backs on God and His word.  Why should the results be any different?

I am very disturbed by the continual disrespect for God’s Word.  I am very concerned about the future of the United States.

At the same time, I have a peace that God will be with those who turn to Him.  I am not worried about my future.  There are too many verses in the Bible that tell me not to worry.

To those verses I cling.

Chris Reimers

Related article:

Christian Rout in the Culture War

http://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/article/christian-rout-culture-war

 

CAN CONSERVATISM SAVE US?

Photo by bondidwhat

I listened to a radio program today.  The host of the program, Brannon Howse, articulated what I have believed for quite some time.

I will let the following quote from the show and from Mr. Howse echo the thoughts I have had:

“So many people have, again and again, wanted to find their hope in the Republican Party, Scott Brown (voting for a repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell), and the Tea Party who largely got him elected.  They continue to put their hope in politics.

“Folks, I have said it over and over.  The culture war is lost…

“The spiritual battle continues and it will intensify greatly.

“When I say the culture war is lost, what I mean is:

“I don’t believe we’re going to see the return of the 10 commandments on our school room walls.

“I don’t believe we’re going to see Roe v. Wade overturned.

“I don’t believe we are going to see the Supreme Court all of a sudden change their ruling that we can’t teach creation and evolution side by side.

“In other words, we are passing the point of no return…

“However, that does not mean that we roll over and we don’t proclaim righteousness or stand for that which is consistent with the character and nature of God.

(Mr. Howse encourages involvement in the political process.)

“But, I believe that we may be at the point that God is judging our nation and removing his hand of divine protection…

“We are suffering the consequences you see mentioned in Romans, chapter one.

The program can be found here:

http://www.crosstalkamerica.com/shows/2010/12/can_conservatism_save_us.php

Here is some of what you will hear on the program:

“Brannon also read an article by Christian author Gary Kah and what he saw after attending a conservative conclave in the suburbs of Chicago in November of 2009. Gary’s experience indicated that many people who consider themselves to be part of the pro-constitution, conservative “right” are hostile to God and want answers apart from him.

“This shows how salvation for the born-again, Bible-believing Christian is not in the Republican party, the conservative movement or in winning the culture war, but in Christ Jesus.

The radio program explains the real problem.  The “conservative” event that was held in Chicago and described on this radio program tells the story.  We have a spiritual problem.

May God have mercy on us.  In Him alone is our hope and joy.

Chris Reimers