The Simple Life

Proverbs 15:2 (ESV) 2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. I think it is time for a change. I was thinking recently about the upcoming election cycle we will all need to endure. As I thought about it, I thought of the immense amount of dollars that we will be spending on the various campaigns. It seems to me that millions, if not billions, of dollars are spent each election in order to secure seats of power and positions of privilege. I began to think…..The other day a gentleman approached me and was talking about investing in our Nicolet Bible Program. The very first question he asked was one concerning our effectiveness. He wanted to know if we are accomplishing what we claim to be accomplishing and for which we were seeking financial aid. I found the question reasonable and proper, and proceeded to answer it for him. But, I could not help but think about what is going to be happening in our elections. There will be a grand effort to rais...

To the older men…. Titus 2:1-2 (NIV) 1 You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. 2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. What is it that the older men should be reminded of or taught? Why? Perhaps it is so that the younger men have a model, and example to follow. Here is the list. Older men are to be temperate, or not extreme in behavior. They need to live in a way that is worthy of respect. They need to be those who are disciplined and exhibit faith, love, and endurance. If I were writing a letter to an older man in the church I would write this: Dear old Christian soldier, I am watching you. For many years I have watched to talk about your faith, your love, and a God with whom you say you have a relationship with. I am watching to see if what you have professed is actually worth having. I want to know that this relationship with God you talked about has actually refined you, changed you, and ...

  The fear I have is not the destruction of life, liberty or the pursuit of happiness but that, which leads to the destruction of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The fear I have is not murder, but that which leads one to murder. The fear I have is not abortion, but that which leads to abortion. The fear I have is not a lack of prayer in schools, but that, which has led to the lack of prayer in schools. The fear I have is not the problem of pornography but what has led to us to allowing pornography and has led people to view such. The fear I have is not divorce, but that which has led to divorce The fear I have is not war, but that which has led to war The fear I have is not violence in entertainment, but why it is that there are people viewing this violence. The fear I have is not death but those who live as if death is not going to happen to them The fear I have is not hell but what has led someone to choose hell over heaven. The fear I have is not suffering a heart attack...

I would like to announce my candidacy for the United States Senate for the great state of Wisconsin. It does not really matter who I run against; it is time for all the incumbents to be replaced. It seems to me that those in Washington have lost touch with why we sent them there. It seems as if they are taking no personal responsibility for the messes we are in, and they fear the cures for our problems more than the problems. It is time for some new thinking. I mean real new thinking, like people being in the Senate who will have the interest of the people, first and foremost, on their mind, and where a real fear of a real God is a driving force for good. We need leaders who will gather and talk about what is best for our nation rather than what deals they can cut for their state. It is time to hold our government officials accountable for the lies they have peddled, the bribes they have given, and the self-interest they have served. I will not be running as a Republican, Democrat, or ...

Psalm 150:1-6 (NLT) 1 Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heaven! 2 Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness! 3 Praise him with a blast of the ram's horn; praise him with the lyre and harp! 4 Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes! 5 Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals. 6 Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord! There comes a time when after we have thought of who God is and placed Him in His proper context that we sit back and are amazed. The only words that come to our mind during these times are words of praise for who He is and what He has done. Should this attitude be my norm? Should I be here every day? Or, is this something that comes "at times"? What is it that causes this spontaneous outburst of praise? I think that if I would just open my eyes and see the sunrise or sunset today. If I would take th...

2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV) 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. I am not to give money, time or talent just because of a need or a feeling of guilt that may overtake me lest I become susceptible to the Evil one's games in trying to play me. I am not to give reluctantly or wishing that I could keep the resource for myself. Most non-profit organizations base their appeal on need or guilt? Should I not address need? Should I only give when I am cheerful about the gift? Why give? Does cheerful giving come from the attitude in which I give? If I am a steward instead of owner, if I see my resources as building the kingdom instead of my self-centered life, if I have responded to the Spirit of God instead of the appeal of man perhaps I would be a bit "giddy" in my giving. Does anyone in America give because God moves them to give or do we give based on appeal? Does it matter? Would it ma...

  This week I heard of another friend who was headed to work with an organization, here in the United States, who needed to raise financial support before beginning his job. Another friend shared with me the woes of his financial condition in that he was in the midst of a ministry, and his support has been less than adequate. I turned on the radio and heard the Christian Radio Share-A-Thon over and over, and over and over again. They spoke of the importance of supporting their work, because after all, I benefited from it, so I should pay for it. In fact, I guess, I should give sacrificially to benefit me. My mind flashed to conferences I attended where I went to seminars on how to raise funds. I was told that I needed to make sure that those who could give had reason to give. I was told those who gave need to continue to be pampered so that they continue to give. I was told that we need to build a board of directors around the givers, and that if they gave, if their treasure was with u...