Hope

According to an article written by Donna Russell (8/20/2018), the Bible was replaced with a “Book of Faith” at an Air Force Base after atheist opposition. 

As reported by Donna, “A Bible used to sit at a Missing Man Table at an Air Force base in Wyoming. It's been replaced by a book of faith after complaints from an atheist group calling for its removal. The Bible was put there by the National League of POW/MIA Families, according to Life Site News. The League says the table is there to recognize those who might be prisoners of war or who are missing in action.  The group also told Life Site News that each element at the table serves a "symbolic purpose," noting that the Bible, in particular, is representative of how many soldiers gained strength through their faith. They say it also represented the nation's history "as one nation under God."”

A book of “generic” faith is meaningless. The only power or hope in faith lies in the object of the faith. Atheists have no hope, no power,and a bleak future at best.

Richard Wurmbrand, who suffered in prison for many years and was constantly indoctrinated by atheist Nazis and Communists, said this: “And when an atheist dies, the funeral speech assures his brokenhearted family that the dead are dead forever, that there is no comfort for the bereaved, that those separated now will never more be reunited, that there is no God and no such thing as eternal life.”

When each person does what is right in their own eyes, there is confusion, anger, and a jockeying for position that wears one out, gives no hope, and lives by the rule that might makes right. 

Why would anyone who would think logically allow an atheist to set the rules for how to recognize those who are missing in action and what they gained strength from when all obvious physical hope was lost?

People have the right to believe what they wish, but all people must realize that believing in something, no matter how sincere, does not make something true. The object of our faith matters, and if we are the object of that faith, we have little to nothing to go on. 

Jesus came to this earth, lived, died, and rose again. He never died again, and He proved that those who intended to do harm did not have the last word. It is in Him we have both the proof of God’s love and the hope of what can come to those who have placed their trust in Him. 

If I am in prison and you want to place something somewhere to know what I am doing to remain hopeful, please place a Bible somewhere, and pray to the one and only God of the universe, for He alone is worthy of our faith. My hope has a name. His name is Jesus, and without Him, there has been no hope, is no hope, and will never be hope. 

For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”Romans 10:10-15 (ESV)

Lessons from the Hummingbird

I enjoy having a hummingbird feeder outside a window that allows me to watch these fascinating creatures feed during the summer months. Towards the end of summer, they seem to feed more vigorously, causing me to refill the feeder often. 

As mid-August comes, it seems as if the birds start to fight more than they eat. There is plenty of food for all of them, and when it runs low, I refill the supply. As long as I am here, they will not run out of food in this spot. Add to that the fact that the feeder has multiple feeding stations and you would think that these beautiful birds could easily share, and that there would be harmony in the skies surrounding my home.

Yet, they seem to be thinking that this is the last meal they will have, and that there is only one feeding station. The fights can get brutal as they begin to resemble fighter planes more than cute little birds. 

I am amused by their acrobatics, and I wonder if God observes us in the same way that I am observing these birds. 

God, too, has supplied all that I would need, and has given mankind many “feeding stations”from which to draw. As long as He is around, and He will be around for eternity, those who depend on Him will be adequately supplied. 

Yet, we seem to be thinking that we, too, have limited supply, and that there is no possible way for us to enjoy what we have if others are moving into our territory.  We watch others so closely that we cannot enjoy the provision we have, and we guard our territory as if the supply is soon to be exhausted. 

God loves us and is perfectly capable of caring for us and every other person He has ever created. Those who know Him, trust Him, and are thrilled when others join them at the “feeder” that He has provided, filled, and sustains. 

According to the local bird watchers, and without any real scientific observation or reasoning,when the Labor Day holiday comes, one should stop feeding the hummingbirds so that they will start to head south for the winter. The theory continues that if I keep an adequate supply during that time of year, I might encourage them to stay too long, and see that my provision for them has caused them harm, when it was meant for good. The intent of the free food is to help them, not to harm them. (I realize that migrating birds seem to know when to go, so the local bird watchers may be wrong in their understanding of migrating animals, but, since this is a thought and not a scientific paper, we will go with it.)

As the natural food supply runs out, I let the artificial food supply run out as well.  It is difficult for me to watch the hummingbirds come to the feeder and find nothing. I can almost hear them moan and blame me, and even accuse me of not caring. I realize that these birds would eventually migrate, however, the thought of one crazy thinking bird that decides to hang out because the supply is plentiful and easy is enough to say “enough.”

God knows what we need and when we need it, and He is capable and willing to provide all that we need. He also knows what is needed during each season of life, and He will give abundantly and cease to give according to what is best for us. (No scientific reasoning is needed on this thought.)

God is older than us, smarter than us, and loves us. We can trust Him.

Owners and Managers

Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

Proverbs 3:9-10 (ESV)

How does one honor God with one’s wealth? We all have wealth, to different degrees. We have resources, and these resources are really ours to manage, not to own. If we think we own things, we act like owners. If we manage things, we act like managers.

Owners have little accountability. Managers have much accountability. Owners make decisions based on what suits them best. Managers make decisions based on how it benefits the owner’s best interest.

When we talk about someone taking ownership, we mean that they act in accordance with ownership, not that they act like the actual owner, for if they did, they would not last long.

All positions of authority on earth are stewardship positions, not ownership positions. Even if you own a business, you really do not own it, God does, and one day you will give an account of how you used His resources, the resources with which you have been entrusted.