Category Archives: Pro-Life

August 3, 2009 · 8:46 am

Swimming Upstream: “Why Has Prayer Failed To Change America?”

prayinghands_bible11

If you have been on the Christian circuit for a while, then you’ve heard more than a few preachers exhort believers with the following verse:

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves , and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Do you realize there are more people praying in our nation than ever before? Promise Keepers. International House of Prayer. The Call. National Day of Prayer. Prayer of Jabez. The list goes on and on.

And yet, America and much of the Western World is diving headfirst into the toilet, waiting to be flushed into a sewer.

So,what about the promises in 2 Chronicles 7:14? Why is prayer not changing America or other Western nations? What are we doing wrong?

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 journeys.

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March 16, 2009 · 8:13 am

Swimming Upstream: “David Wilkerson’s Prophecy”

David Wilkerson, pastor of Times Square Church, author of The Cross and The Switchblade and founder of Teen Challenge, declared in an urgent message on March 7, 2009:

AN EARTH-SHATTERING CALAMITY IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. IT IS GOING TO BE SO FRIGHTENING, WE ARE ALL GOING TO TREMBLE – EVEN THE GODLIEST AMONG US.For 10 years I have been warning about a thousand fires coming to New York City. It will engulf the whole megaplex, including areas of New Jersey and Connecticut. Major cities all across America will experience riots and blazing fires – such as we saw in Watts, Los Angeles, years ago.

There will be riots and fires in cities worldwide. There will be looting – including Times Square, New York City. What we are experiencing now is not a recession, not even a depression. We are under God’s wrath. (For full story, see here.)

So, what do you plan to do about this prophecy? It seems to me that we have three options:

(1) We can be like most Christians and take a wait-and-see posture. You know, if it doesn’t happen, then we can start up blogs decrying Wilkerson as a false prophet. But of course, should the fires begin and the bombs go off, we are in a pickle, right?

(2) We can ask our pastors and other leaders what they think about Wilkerson’s prophecy. After all, these leaders are trained and paid to hear God’s voice for the rest of us, right?

(3) We can seek God for ourselves and ask Him what we should do.

Options (1) and (2) are road maps to disaster. The history of the church is filled with tales of woe about believers who followed these paths.

Option (3) is the only godly and responsible action to take. Don’t wait. Begin today.

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March 12, 2009 · 6:25 am

The Bear

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When the best football coaches are mentioned, Paul William “Bear” Bryant (1913 – 1983) is usually at the top of the list. His coaching status, even today, is considered legendary. 323 college football victories. 6 national championships. 13 Southeastern Conference titles.

But for me, I like his quotes best of all:

“The old lessons (work, self-discipline, sacrifice, teamwork, fighting to achieve) aren’t being taught by many people other than football coaches these days. The football coach has a captive audience and can teach these lessons because the communication lines between himself and his players are more wide open than between kids and parents. We better teach these lessons or else the country’s future population will be made up of a majority of crooks, drug addicts, or people on relief.”

“It’s not the will to win that matters – everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters.”

“It’s not the dog in the fight that counts, it’s the fight in the dog.” (For more, see here.)

And if you’re interested in whether or not he was a Christian, read here.

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March 11, 2009 · 6:27 am

Swimming Upstream: “Dreaming Big? Plan On Dying First!”

Burt Prelutsky said, “I don’t pay for other people’s ideas. I steal them.” So, with that in mind, the idea for this article was gently swiped from Stuff Christians Like #506. Kudos to Burt and Prodigal John!

About fifteen years ago, I began everyday by praying something like this: “Father, send me. Place me on a street corner preaching the gospel in LA or Rwanda or somewhere, but send me.”

After a while, a prophetess showed up at my place and proclaimed, “The Lord doesn’t want you asking to be sent out preaching for the next thirty days. Instead, He has something else for you to do first. Then, you can ask again.”

I obeyed the prophecy and sought the Lord on what He wanted me to do. It seemed He wanted me to be a painting contractor.

And within thirty days, I was in the biggest trial of my life. One that destroyed my reputation, my finances, and me. I lost all of my friends and my ministry. Like Job, I spent the days weeping and bemoaning my birth. The only thing that kept me going was the understanding that the Father loved me and His grace. The following verse became my hope:

I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. (Psalm 27:13)

Now, after all these years, I know what the Lord actually meant when the prophetess said, “He has something else for you to do first.” He wanted me to die first; and He had the perfect plan to achieve His desire for me.

I’d like to say that I died easily. No mess. No fuss. No bother. But it was a slow, agonizing death. When death happened in part of me, another part would be revived and attempted to climb out of the grave. Then, that part would be dealt with by the Lord. All of this took time. Lots of it.

And yet, this morning, I finally obeyed the second part of the prophecy. “Lord, send me.”

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March 9, 2009 · 6:29 am

Swimming Upstream: “Laughter. Try It!”

Okay, the economy looks bad and jobs are shaky. And maybe our 401’s and our home values are in the toilet. But let me ask, can you still laugh? Because if you can, all is not lost.

A joyful heart is good medicine. But a broken spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22)

Try reading this. And this.

Abraham Lincoln said, “With the fearful strain that is on me day and night, if I did not laugh I should die.”

And lastly, in the words of the noted Jewish philosopher, Allen Stewart Konigsberg aka Woody Allen: “I’m thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out my nose.”

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March 7, 2009 · 8:13 am

Prognosis For Our Future: Walk in Faith or Wallow in Bitterness

I absolutely believe that we American Christians are living in the best time ever. For us, this is the season the prophet Daniel spoke about:

Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. (Daniel 11: 32)

If you continue reading past this verse in Daniel, you will notice the prophet foresaw bad things happening to us believers. Some will fall by the sword. Some will be burned to death. Some will end up in captivity. Some will be plundered. This will continue many days; and all of this will happen to purge and purify us.

Now, you have a decision to make.

Will you walk in faith and be that mighty person of God? Being strong. Doing great exploits. Allowing God to purge and purify us.

Or will you be like Lot’s wife and look back at what America was, and not where it is? Let me say, nostalgia sucks! It will pull you into bitterness and defile you.You can not relive the past; it’s gone. And we need to move on.

Like the Apostle Paul stated:

…one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ( Philippians 3:13-14)

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March 7, 2009 · 6:47 am

Do You Love Israel?

If you have a love for Israel, Yeshua Israel is a must-read site, especially the news videos. Shani Ferguson presents an Israeli’s viewpoint without media hype.

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March 7, 2009 · 6:36 am

How To Live With Less

All of us need heroes who we can try to model our lives after. Mark and Christine Pedder are two such people. Check out Mark’s blog and read Home Again.

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March 6, 2009 · 8:44 am

Need Encouragement?

I stumbled over this last night and it is awesome. The email letter is from Tyler Perry. Now, don’t just look at it and decide it’s too long because it is worth reading!

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March 6, 2009 · 7:53 am

Swimming Upstream: “Rebellion in the Ranks!”

A recent phone conversation between Honey and me:

“What is your problem?” Honey said. “You can’t ignore Obama and let America slide down the drain. What about our children and grandchildren? I’m angry!”

“Honey, what are you going to do to stop President Obama?” I countered.

“Well, I’m going to read and listen, then write to politicians and newspapers. Make my voice heard,” she said.

“Good luck. The trail up that mountain is filled with bones of people who tried to win one for the Gipper.”

“Okay, Mister Smarty Pants,” she said, “what are you planning on doing?”

“Wait on God. Then, when He speaks, I’ll build His kingdom,” I replied.

A loud sigh. “Lord, I’m married to a man with his head in the sand!” She paused to add emphasis to her next point. “So, why build God’s kingdom now when nobody seems to care about God?”

“Ah, this is the perfect time. People have their guards down; their hearts are exposed. Some are angry about one issue or the other. Others are losing hope. We just need some groups like the early Salvation Army and leaders like William Booth to come forth. Then, the gospel can invade cities. It’ll be great!!”

“Yeah, right!” she said. “How can you and I be so different, yet still get along?”

“I’m praying God will change you,” I said.

“Funny that you say that because I’m praying the same for you,” she replied. “But I love you.”

“Honey, I love you.”

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