Category Archives: black people

March 1, 2009 · 6:24 am

Death: What’s It Like?

The thirty year old man broke down when he heard the doctor’s report. “Six months to live. It’s not fair! What about the things that I haven’t done, huh?” he cried, tears running down his face.

The older doctor removed his glasses and shrugged his shoulders. “Sorry,” he said, not knowing what else to say.

“Okay,” the young man said, “what’s death like? You know, tell me what lies on the other side?”

Again, the doctor shrugged. “I don’t really know.”

“What? You’re a Christian, aren’t you? And you don’t know? How am I supposed to have any hope?

A scratching and whining could be heard from the other side of the entry door into the room. The doctor stood up and walked over to the door and opened it. A golden retriever bounded in and eagerly sought affection from the doctor.

“Did you notice my dog?” asked the doctor to his patient. “He’s never been to my office before. So, he didn’t know what was on this side of the door, only that his master was here. And he had no fear about going through the door.” The doctor paused a moment. “I know very little about what’s on the other side of death, but I know this. My master is waiting for me, and that’s good enough for me.”

This was adapted from a pass along chain email sent to me by my daughter.

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February 28, 2009 · 7:09 am

Reflection On Mental Reflection

Got any hangups about your spouse? Is she or he less perfect than you are? Then, check this post by Philippa at Mental Reflections. It’s sort of like the old Mennen Aftershave commercial where the man slaps some Mennen on his face, and then says, “Thanks. I needed that.”

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February 27, 2009 · 8:37 am

Swimming Upstream: “Was Election 2008 A Test From God? Did We Fail?”

Spike Lee, the film director, declared, “God Himself ordained the financial crisis to happen when it did to propel Barack Obama to victory.”

Now, this statement has really, really bugged me. Not that Spike Lee is a prophet or a seer or had a divine revelation about the election. He just stated what many people seem to believe about the 2008 presidential election.

So, did God reach down from heaven and intervene on Obama’s behalf as Lee declared?

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:7-8)

In mid-September, Senator John McCain’s campaign was picking up steam because of the addition of Governor Sarah Palin to his ticket. The double-digit Obama lead had been overcome, and polls showed that McCain/Palin were ahead by a slim margin. Abortion and moral issues were Obama’s downfall, and the Dems were in a tailspin.

Then, the financial crisis hit. Overnight, Obama’s polling number shot up and it was all over for the Republican ticket.

What happened?

It is my deepest belief that the plumline issue for the 2008 Presidential election was abortion. Two pro-life candidates versus two pro-abortion ones. A clear-cut choice on this divisive issue.

As for the financial crisis, it was a gigantic mirror that God held up as a test to show us our hearts. Would we vote to stop murdering unborn babies or would we protect our billfolds? We chose to love money; and thus failed the test.

Okay, you say, what’s next?

National repentance must be made for the 2008 Presidential election. A nation can not thumb its nose at God and get away with it. But also, we need to cry out for mercy for those who voted for the Obama/Biden ticket, especially the African-American community who voted 95% for the pro-abortion ticket.

Swimming Upstream appears at this blog site on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. It’s a little of this and a little of that, all written to encourage and exhort believers in their Christian jouneys.

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February 25, 2009 · 8:37 am

Swimming Upstream: “Ignore Obama And Politicians; And Build”

I hate tossing in the towel on America. I just hate it.

Every part of my being wants our nation to fulfill the vision that President Ronald Reagan had concerning it:

“I’ve spoken of the Shining City all my political life. …In my mind it was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, windswept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace; a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity. And if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That’s how I saw it, and see it still.” (Reagan’s farewell speech.)

But now, I don’t foresee our nation ever returning to these lofty ideals. Instead, I see a blind America with a white cane stumbling down a path, bouncing off obstacles and circumstances, always looking for handouts from Big Brother, always searching for the next stimulus, always hoping that government will have the answers.

This does not mean that I don’t see a time of prosperity arising out of our economic crisis because I do. Time will help. But the transient prosperity will insure the reelection of President Obama and his cronies who will then continue to mortgage our children’s and grandchildren’s futures and redistribute wealth to their own voting bases. And of course, this cycle will continue on and on.

There are those who will decry that I am a quitter, a sore loser, but actually, I’m not. Like any good Texas Hold’em card player, I know when to fold a losing hand and wait for the next deal. This is one of those moments.

So, I’m going to ignore President Obama and all of the politicians. I won’t listen to Rush, Sean, Michael, Laura or any talk-radio hosts, not because I necessarily disagree with them, but rather, their insights and opinions will cause me to grieve and be angry over where America is going and what we are losing. And I don’t want to spend time wallowing in anger over the should-have-been’s or maybe will-be’s if only we can get our message out. For me, this is a waste of time.

Instead, I plan on building the kingdom of God because I know – positively and absolutely – that this liberal house of cards will fail. Then, America will be looking for the “change that we can believe in.”

And the church needs to be ready.

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February 23, 2009 · 7:33 am

Swimming Upstream: “Uptight Over Obama Yet? Then What?”

As soon as you jump into your Chevy Suburban, you hit the buttons on the radio. Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity orMichael Savage streams through the Bose speakers loud and clear. Thank God for these purveyors of truth, you think as you drive down the freeway, heading for your cubicle.

Rush’s or Sean’s or Michael’s point of view is so important that you are forced – yes forced – to stay in the Suburban with the engine running fifteen extra minutes to hear it all. Maybe your liberal anti-Prop 8 boss won’t notice. And if he does, you’ll give him your Clint Eastwood glare. The one that reveals a .44 Magnum Special rage held back by a hair trigger, but ready at an instant to be blasted at an Obama supporter, maybe him. Make my day, you think as you walk inside, reflecting on the somber news of the day.

All of this angst is due to President Barack Hussein Obama being elected. If only Christians would have voted according to the tenants of their faith instead of their comforts. If only Governor Sarah Palin had been the Republican candidate instead of John McCain. If only President George Bush had been more conservative. If only the Republicans in the Senate and Congress had not wasted their majority advantage by acting like a bunch of drunk Democrats. If only. If only.

Now yesterday, Alan Keyes states: “He [Obama] is going to destroy this country, and we are either going to stop him or the United States of America is going to cease to exist.”

This the end, you think as you sit down in your chair, staring at the computer. My children, my grandchildren will be forced to grovel on their knees before Big Brother with their hands out begging for bread crumbs. “Alms. Alms for the poor,” they will cry.

Hey, get a grip on yourself, will you?

Father still sits on His throne. Jesus is still Lord. Holy Spirit is still the Helper.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? (Romans 8:31)

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February 20, 2009 · 7:14 am

Swimming Upstream: “What’s Missing In California Prop 8 Battle?”

In case you missed it, on November 4, 2008, Californians voted and passed Ballot Proposition 8 which changed the California Constitution so that valid marriages are defined as only between a man and woman. Thereby overriding a March, 2008, California Supreme Court ruling which allowed same-sex marriages.

As background, the 2008 Supreme Court ruling did away with Proposition 22 which was passed in 2000 by a 63% to 37% margin. This proposition also stated that valid marriages were between men and women, and not same-sexes. But it did not go as far as Prop 8 and change the wording of the state constitution.

Okay, with me so far.

California Governor Arnold Swarzenegger opposed Proposition 8, even after it passed by a 52% -48% margin. He’s sworn to uphold the California constitution, but ho-hum on that, right?

California Attorney General Jerry Brown opposed Prop 8 from the beginning and did his best to write the ballot measure in such a way as to insure confusion. Thus, many may have voted in error against the proposition who may have actually been for it.

Guess what? Who do you think is in charge of defending Prop 8 against the many court challenges offered by the homosexual lobby against Proposition 8? You guessed it! Attorney General Jerry Brown.

This is political comedy at its best! California’s governor, attorney general and Supreme Court are all sworn to uphold the state’s constitution and to follow the mandates of the electorate, but each is trying to do the opposite.

What’s missing in the California Proposition 8 battle? God.

Now, understand that I am not talking about the nice little God worshipped by most evangelical churches, Catholic churches, LDS churches, emergent churches and progressive churches. This God is pretty much harmless and weak, and not expected to intervene into man’s affairs.

I’m talking about the Lord God of Elijah. The Judge. The Lord God of Hosts. The Maker of Heaven and Earth. He’s ready to arrive on the scene. He won’t convene a meeting to have a dialogue with conservative Christians and progressive Christians over gay issues, especially gay marriages. No, not at all. Instead, He will come in power and settle the problem. Period.

So, keep your eyes on California, especially San Francisco, over the next few months.

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February 18, 2009 · 8:19 am

Cannonball Baptism

Mark Twain said, “If you want to be a good writer, be a good plagiarist. And if you want to be a great writer be a great plagiarist.”

So with that in mind, check this story out at Philippa’s Mental Reflection blog. It is a hoot and a must see.

Swimming Upstream: “Pray For President Obama, But Don’t Bow Your Knees To Him”

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

Can you imagine what Timothy thought when he read the letter from the Apostle Paul containing the above verses? Maybe something like – Paul, you’ve lost it this time. Emperor Nero needs to be hung from a tree, shot at sunup, knifed in the back, pushed over a cliff and crucified. Prayers! Why waste them on this rogue?

But did you know that historians portray Nero as being extremely popular with the common classes of people? He supported the freedman class by vetoing laws enacted by the Senate. He cut taxes. He removed harsh tax collectors. He removed tariffs on imported food. His public relief effort after the fire consisted of heavy government spending on construction projects. He tried to reform the government. And oh yes, he was a great orator. People loved to hear him speak, especially when he promised them goodies.

Nero had a major downside; he persecuted Christians. Squads of soldiers were dispatched throughout the empire to inquire of people, “Do you swear allegiance to Emperor Nero as your lord?”

Sadly, Christians were backed into a corner with the question. They had one Lord, Jesus. When they answered negatively, they were whisked off to arenas where they were covered with skins of animals and offered as prey for hungry lions. Or they were crucified. Or they were mounted on poles, covered with wax and used as candles for lawn parties.

It was not a good time to be a Christian. And yet, Paul stated that believers needed to pray for Nero and that this was good and acceptable in the sight of God.

So fast forward to 2009, we need to do the same for President Obama. Pray for him in every possible way. For Michelle. For Malia and Sasha. For his mother-in-law. For his aunt. For all of his administration. Why? So that we Christians can lead quiet and tranquil lives in all godliness and dignity.

But if President Obama steps over the line and asks us compromise our Christian principles, don’t bow your knees to him. Grab an animal skin and head for the lions’ den.

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February 11, 2009 · 7:05 am

Swimming Upstream: “Following God…No Matter Where”

What if the Lord asked you to go to what looks like a garbage dump and minister to some of the poorest and neediest people in the world, would you go? No doubt, a tough question for most of us. One, we hope the Lord would never ask.

But Mark and Christine Pedder were asked just that, and they said, “Yes.”

The following is taken from Mark’s blog:

Mark and Christine Pedder, two Aussies living and working one of the largest slums in Asia, BASECO.

Around 60 acres of reclaimed land, with an estimated 16,000 families living on it in abject poverty. The average family size is mum, dad and 4-6 children, with extremes where families have more than 10 children. The largest family we personally know has 21 living children, our neighbor has 18. So even if you do the lowest possible estimate of our slum population, we have more than 100,000 people living in our slum.

Poverty, the poorest of the poor, disease, sickness, rubbish, lack of clean water, no sewerage, occassional pirated electricity… (See here)

Tired of reading, check out these photos and have your heart crushed. Mark’s blog. And their ministry.

One of my biggest fears is that one day soon I will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ. There I will watch Jesus set a torch to all of my so-called works. What will the fire reveal? I fear there will be nothing but ashes left from my man-made wood, hay and straw works. Nothing else. No gold, silver or precious jewels. Then, how will I will spend my eternity in heaven? Will I always lament my lost opportunities? Or is there enough grace to cover my shame?

Mark and Christine have challenged me with an opportunity. Now, what am I going to do with it?

Are Pulpits At Fault For America’s Present Dilemma?

We are sick, and the pulpits are largely at fault. It is certainly not because we lack great pulpiteers, personalities and promoters. What, then, is the root problem? Or, like the old commercial of a national fast food franchise, “Where’s the beef?”
Pastors must get back to putting the call to make disciples and teach the people “all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:18-20) ahead of church as usual. Preach the unvarnished Word of God rather than telling stories salted with a few Scriptures. Will it empty some pews? Undoubtedly. Will it make you more popular and a pop icon? Most likely not. Will it restore the power of God to the church and bring healing to our land? It always has.
We are at a point where thousands of pastors across America must take the challenge, honestly assess whether we are accepting the full mandate in every area shown above and providing the “offensive” leadership that the church so desperately needs. The cost of not doing so can already be measured in broken lives and a weak nation. (Dave Welch)

Are pulpits at fault for America’s present dilemma? Yes.

Do I agree with the analysis by Dave Welch? No, absolutely not.

What’s my suggestion? Burn the pulpits. Sell the churches. Give the money to charity. Start a reformation. Begin anew.

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