Larry Who

In the movie, The Bucket List, two terminally ill men write out on a sheet of paper a list of dreams and fantasies each would like to do before he kicks the bucket (or dies). Because one of the two men is wealthy, the two are able to live out their bucket lists’ dreams.

The two men leap from planes, drive race cars, eat caviar, motorcycle on the Great Wall of China, get tattoos, eat at a world famous restaurant and do other wild things before they kick the bucket.

Now, I have learned a long time ago that the Lord does not mind me enjoying myself while I walk on the earth. Yes, my citizenship is in heaven, yes I have a love for the church, yes I have a burden for the poor, but it’s okay to enjoy a fine meal or a movie or whatever. It’s just a matter of my wants and dreams being within His plans for my life.

So, what’s on your bucket list?

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.

Ask us Christians if we love our neighbors and you will instantly hear our rousing  knee-jerk response: “Yes. Yes. Yes. A thousand times yes and more.”

After all, we all know how Jesus summarized the Law by stating believers should love God and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

And who hasn’t heard the story of the Good Samaritan at least a thousand-zillion times ad infinitum.

We know all of this stuff; it’s Basic Christianity 101. Tickle our ears, give us something new, right?

But do we really love our neighbors?

This is a question I ask myself often. You see, for me, it’s easy to care about the poor and hurting in Asia and Africa or the inner cities of America or even the gays in San Francisco. These are burdens the Lord has placed on my heart.

But I struggle with loving the guy next door or the fellow down the street. After all, can’t I fulfill Jesus’ words by just tossing them a warm “howdy” every once in a while?

And yet, I’m wondering if my Christianity isn’t what the Apostle James termed dead faith.

Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:17)

Do we really love our neighbors? If so, how far do we have to stretch out our love to them? With prayers? With fasting? With our pocketbooks? With our fellowship, even though we don’t like or agree with them? With hospitality? Where does this love end?

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.

Something happened after September 11, 2001, something very different from what is happening now. Do you know what it was?

Out of fear for themselves, their family and their country, people flocked into churches to pray.

How long did this unusual phenomenon last? Until the fear passed. Then, it was back to normal ho-hum Christianity.

Eight years later, America is now led by a President who stated during his campaign over and over again, “I am a Christian who prays everyday to Jesus.” Not only that, President Obama often made visits to churches where he stood in a pulpit, quoted Bible verses and sounded like a Baptist preacher.

But now, after six months in office, President Obama seems to be opposing Christian virtues with his anti-Israel/pro-Palestine initiatives, his income redistribution, his Obamacare,  his greater emphasis on abortion and many other programs.

The church patronized is the church paralyzed, therefore, the church in peril. The church persecuted is therefore the church prayerful, and therefore powerful. (G. Campbell Morgan)

What do you think? Is President Obama a tool of God to get us Christians back on our knees praying? If so,  how long will it take before we get the message?

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.

We American Christians  love our homes. They are our refuge away from the outside world and the storms of life. Just open the door, walk inside, close the door; and there you are, in your own private castle.

This is the one piece of real estate where you can do what you want, when you want, with whom you want and how you want to do it, without any other eyes or ears checking on you.

But what if?

Today, the American economy is teetering on the edge of calamity with an overwhelming debt load crushing the life out of it. And at the same time, our political Mad Hatters, not being satisfied, are adding more and more debt each week.

The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave. (Proverbs 22:7)

Guess who America’s chief lenders are? China and other foreign countries.

What if these foreign nations quit buying our T-Bills and other lending notes? Then, overnight, our economy would make the Great Depression look like the golden years. Jobs would be instantly lost. Homes and cars would be repossessed. People would be desperate.

So, are you ready to invite other families to live in your home with you? Are you ready to share your food, your autos, your computers, your bathrooms, your bedrooms, your finances and your whole life (almost every intimate detail on good days and bad) for an unforeseeable amount of time…maybe even  forever?

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

My entrance into the bologosphere came about in the late summer of 2004. A radio host, Hugh Hewitt, was constantly talking about blogging on his syndicated program.

“Blogging,” I thought. “What’s that?”

Not knowing the answer, I bought a book, did some research and started beating on the keys. Over the years, my writing has evolved, but it has always been from a Christian viewpoint.

After five years, I’m wondering a few things. Does God approve of my blogging? Or yours? Or anyone’s? If so, why? If not, why not?

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.