A new year, a new life

At exactly 12:00 am every January 1, fireworks light up the night sky, champagne corks pop, horns and whistles blow, hugs and kisses are exchanged and well wishes for a Happy New Year are on the lips of  people all over the world. Behind this annual celebration is the hope that the new year will bring about a change of fortune, as well as, a chance to wipe the past year's slate clean and start over. But 364 days down the road, the unfortunate reality is that human will and human effort alone are not enough to transform our lives or make them any better.

Human efforts at self-improvement are only superficial and external at best. We believe change is just a matter of exercising our willpower. If we will ourselves to stop doing this or start doing that, it will produce the change we desire. But if willpower alone was all you needed, you would have succeeded with the first diet you tried or the first time you tried to stop smoking, drinking, using drugs or whatever else you may have tried to stop or start doing. Instead, it's the end of another year, and you find yourself back at the exact same place vowing to make many of the same changes you promised to make the year before.

And why is that? The answer lies in the simple fact that you were created by God. Therefore, you cannot recreate yourself---for that to happen, you need the Creator. In Psalm 51, King David recognizes his inability to change himself and prays: "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10 KJV). King David acknowledges that without God's help his efforts to change himself are fruitless. Paul, an Apostle of Christ, explains the dilemma we all face as human beings: "I have discovered this principle of life---that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God's law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh what a miserable person I am. Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God. The answer is in Jesus Christ, our Lord!" (Romans 7:21-25 NLT)

The key to becoming a new you in this new year is surrendering your life to Christ. He alone has the power to change you. After all the Bible says that God created everything that exists and that  includes you. To the sinner, God promises that if you confess your sins, he will forgive your sins and set you on a new path --- the path of right living. To the Christian who has turned away from God to his own way, if you repent, he will forgive your sins and restore you to his family. No sin is so great that it cannot be forgiven if you come to God in a spirit of true repentance. You don't have to wait until the clock strikes midnight on January 1, you can begin your New Year with Christ right now. The Bible declares that "anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)  What a way to begin the New Year with your sins forgiven and a chance to start your life over. It doesn't get any better than that. Happy New You!

Dear God,

I turn my back on the past life I've lived. I am sorry for the sins I committed
 that have separated me from you. I believe Jesus died for my sins.

And I ask you, Jesus to come into my heart

and help me to live the rest of my life for you.

Did you pray this prayer and mean it? Congratulations, you have been born again into the family of God. Celebrate your new life. To help you understand and learn more about your new life in Christ, find a local Christ believing church in your area or contact Peace with God. 



Gun control: What the world needs now is love

"What the world needs now is love, sweet love. It's the only thing that there's just too little of." Songwriter, Hal David

At the core of every man, woman and child, no matter who they are or where they were born is a need to be loved. Love is a fundamental need of human existence much like food, water and shelter. God wired us that way. If there was more love in the world, many of the horrid things we see happening now --- despicable, disgusting, degrading things---would not be happening.

 

The Newtown school shooting is the latest in a string of mind numbing  violent incidents of unspeakable horror that have gripped America's heart in 2012. Before Newtown, there was the Oregon Mall shooting...before that the UPS shooting in Minneapolis...before that the shooting at a Sikh Temple in Wisconsin...before that the shooting at a Colorado movie theater ..before that the campus shooting in Oikos and now Newtown. Mercifully, the death toll from all these incidents stands at 56 lives lost, not counting the gunmen who took their own lives.

 

America once again finds itself in a state of shock, grief and denial. Shock at such a senseless act of violence; grief over the deaths of 20 innocent children and 6 adults; and denial about how much we ourselves are to blame. While we grieve with those who grieve, much of what is happening in this country is of our own making. As President Obama correctly observed during a vigil for those slain in the Newtown massacre, "We [as a nation] will have to change."

 

Unlike the "change you can believe in" that this President promised we'd see four years ago, our collective national outrage demands swifter action if America is to change for the better. What would a changed America look like?

 

This may be a radical idea but returning prayer to the schools would signal real change in America. When prayer was outlawed in the classroom in the 50's, the downward spiral of our education system began. Too many classrooms today resemble battlefields marked by undisciplined and disruptive students, poor academic achievement and high dropout rates. Ask any teacher, parent, or even student, allowing prayer back might help change the atmosphere.

 

We are a nation that has lost its way. Our moral compass is broken. We have shifted from the biblical principles and ideals upon which this nation was founded. Do we even know what we stand for anymore? For America to change for the better, our government will have to set the example starting at the very top. President Obama and Congress must lead the way. Putting politics aside, they must become the peacemakers to bring us together. The Bible says, "A house divided against itself cannot stand." And neither will this nation unless we put our differences aside and come together as "one nation under God."

 

We must limit those freedoms that are being exploited and used to undermine our society. The right to bear arms is one. Many are calling for stricter gun control laws but guns are not the problem ---people are. Back in the day when America was a vast uncharted wasteland and the settlers were easy prey, it made sense for every household to have guns. Today, we are more advanced and have military and police forces to assume the burden of protecting us. Nowadays, there is less reason for individuals to stockpile an arsenal of military grade weapons; less reason for such weapons to be available to ordinary citizens; and no reason for them to wind up in the hands of criminals and mentally challenged individuals as easily as they did in Newtown and in other situations.

 

Speech is another freedom being exploited, particularly by the writers, producers and performers of  "entertainment." These purveyers of our culture expose our children to unwholesome images of sex, violence, pornography and other forms of human depravity. And we wonder why bad things are happening to us? Where do we draw the line at freedom of speech? Our enemies are watching us. Russian dictator Josef Stalin once said of America: "America is like a healthy body and its resistance is threefold: its patriotism, its morality, and its spiritual life. If we can undermine these three areas, America will collapse from within." 

 

Clearly, if we are to survive as a nation, it cannot be business as usual in America going forward. We cannot continue as we have been and risk losing future generations to violence. We must return to the former things that got us to where we are today --- faith, family and freedom. More important, we must turn back to God: "If my people will humble themselves...I will heal their land." 

The battle over Halloween

"Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new."
2 Corinthians 5:17

The battle between the world’s observance of Halloween and the Christian church’s stand against it rears its controversial head every year at this time when store shelves overflow with ghoulish replicas of witches, monsters, devils, ghosts, goblins and the like.

When I was a child growing up in the 1950’s, we never heard much public objection about Halloween being something evil. My parents sent me out with a shopping bag to go door-to-door “trick or treating” in my neighborhood. Hours later I’d come home loaded down with all kinds of goodies courtesy of kind and generous neighbors.

For us kids, it was the next best holiday, after Thanksgiving and Christmas. Oddly enough back then none of us really knew about or bothered to look into Halloween's origins. We dressed in costumes and did what everybody else did because it seemed harmless and it was fun.

Fast forward to a more enlightened age, Evangelical Christians today have brought the whole question of the observance of Halloween to the forefront of our collective conscious. Many churches have begun teaching its members about the dark and sinister meanings behind the observance of Halloween and what’s really behind it.

Here’s what some in Christian circles are saying about Halloween.

Elliott Watson in his article, “Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?” says:
“The origins of Halloween are Celtic in tradition and have to do with observing the end of summer sacrifices to gods in Druidic tradition. In what is now Britain and France, it was the beginning of the Celtic year, and they believed Samhain, the lord of death, sent evil spirits abroad to attack humans, who could escape only by assuming disguises and looking like evil spirits themselves. The waning of the sun and the approach of dark winter made the evil spirits rejoice and play nasty tricks. Believe it or not, most of our Halloween practices can be traced back to these old pagan rites and superstitions.

“Shock” is the only word to describe what I found. Halloween is a real, sacred day for those who follow Wicca. In fact, it is one of two high and holy days for them. The Celtic belief of spirits being released is current, along with the worship of Samhain (the lord of death) – both are promoted as something to embrace on that day. There is no question in my mind that to those who believe and follow the practices of witchcraft, Halloween represents an opportunity to embrace the evil, devilish, dark side of the spiritual world.”

Weighing in with another viewpoint William J. Schnoebelen says:
“If you are a Christian parent, God has given you a precious responsibility in your children. Remember, their ability to resist spiritual wickedness is much less than yours. If you allow your children to participate in Halloween (Trick or Treating, costume parties, etc.) you are allowing them to play on "the devil's turf," and Satan will definitely press his home court advantage. You are opening up doorways into their young lives for evil by bringing them into a kind of "fellowship" with these ancient "gods."

We are commanded not to become involved with the unfruitful works of darkness (Eph. 5:11). Both from my experience as a witch, and since getting saved, as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I have seen far too many examples of how breaking this command works out in lives. Remember, while we have God's promise of protection for ourselves and our children, that promise may not hold if we allow our children to celebrate this dark holiday. Case after case has come to us of children in rebellion. In many of these families, the problem can be traced back to the children being exposed to Halloween at a young age. It is hard enough to raise children these days in a Godly way without exposing them to Satan's realm. “

Others say Christians should simply turn this “hollow” day back on itself and emphasize the good that can come out of it.

Grace Communion International church suggests another approach to Halloween:
“The issue of whether to celebrate Halloween in any way is usually only a question for parents who have small children. Retailers advertise Halloween as a time of great fun for kids, so they naturally want to participate in trick-or-treat walkabouts, don spooky clothing and visit local “haunted house” stations provided by some merchants or involve themselves in other related activities.

For parents who don’t want their children involved in such things, they might consider having a home party with other parents and children that don’t involve Halloween-type festivities. Some churches offer an evening get-together for children and parents, with fun Bible-centered games and party snacks.”

The Care Ministry of Christ’s Journey Church offers another alternative viewpoint:
“Jesus teaches that evil is a personal matter rising from within a person’s heart, not ingested through participation in a practice deemed demonic. Without doubt, for those who believe in witchcraft and follow evil practices, Halloween represents a day to celebrate the demonic and dark spiritual forces, which scripture teaches are in the world and also in people’s hearts. Because of Christ, those dark spiritual forces are not alive in my heart, which is why I see no problem in participating in an alternate Halloween celebration of pure, innocent fun. Why ignore a major holiday that exists around us? Let’s take the perspective of Joseph in Genesis 50: What Satan intends to harm, we will “use for good to accomplish the saving of many lives.”

We can counter the evil influences of Halloween by joining together in an alternative environment to celebrate the joyous, fearless life we live in Christ. As Bill taught this month, “the company of the committed” can mount an offensive strategy, intentionally using Halloween to invite others who may not be in a personal relationship with Jesus to UBC’s Block Party or a Neighborhood Block Party you host. In summary, I believe Christians are free to use Halloween as an opportunity to promote relationships with those inside and outside of our faith, while modeling the abundant life Jesus came to give us.”

Regardless of which position you hold on the subject, this truth is certain --- Jesus stood up to evil and won. The Bible tells every Christian to overcome evil by doing good. When we stand our ground against Satan, he will flee from us. As Christians, we have the authority and the power to overcome whatever Satan throws at us. Halloween and all it represents is no exception. Instead of shunning it, why not transform October 31^st, into a day where Jesus Christ is the center of attention. Let’s lead by example by honoring Jesus in all we do every day.

Who wants to be a millionaire?

 

For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil

Like the popular American TV show, the answer to this question is... nearly everybody.  Who hasn’t had dreams of striking it rich some day?  Such dreams entice millions of Americans to spend an estimated $160 billion a year in casinos and on state lotteries.  Sadly, for the majority of gamblers who throw hard earned money at games of chance, their big payday never comes.  And as for the fortunate few who beat the “millions to 1 odds” to win mega jackpots, winning may change their life, but not always for the better.

Money is no guarantee of happiness.  In fact, the Bible warns against what it calls “the lure of riches,” which can blind you to the things in life that really matter. The story is told of a rich man who was so wealthy that he kept building bigger barns to hold all of his wealth. One day, while he was admiring his possessions, he remarked to himself, “Friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!” When God heard him, God said to the rich man, “You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?”

What profit is there in gaining the whole world if you lose your soul? In light of eternity, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God. God desires to have a personal relationship with you. He promises that if you put him first, he will supply everything else you need.

It’s a sure bet that no one will leave this life alive. Everyone living at this moment in time will one day face death. But it doesn’t have to end there. God’s gift to the world is eternal life (Romans 6:23). But you must be willing to turn your life over to Jesus and let him call all the shots. Salvation is not a gamble. It's a free gift from God to anyone who wants it. Through faith and trust in Jesus Christ, you can receive your free gift right now by praying this simple prayer:

 Dear God, I accept your gift of salvation through Jesus Christ as the pardon for my sins.  I have sinned against you and I am truly sorry. By faith, I ask Jesus to come into my heart and help me to live the rest of my life for you.

If you said this prayer from your heart, your odds of winning at life have just increased. God has accepted you into his family. Contact a Christian ministry in your area or online for the next step toward your new life in Christ.

The God particle: in the beginning God...

“If, by faith, we accept that there are immutable natural laws, why not accept the possibility of a Lawgiver?” from, Faith found the God Particle, author Larry Tauton (Christian Post, Jul 16, 2012)

Mankind has tried for centuries to prove or disprove the existence of God. Creation vs. Evolution theorists in various academic, scientific and philosophical circles still debate this question, even in our day. With recent attention focused on the breakthrough discovery of the Higgs boson, so-named ‘god particle,’ we can expect such debates to once again take center stage. Many God vs. anti-God proponents are just waiting to be heard.

However, my purpose is not to debate the existence of God. God is God regardless of what anyone of us thinks. Our belief or lack thereof doesn’t change that. Genesis 1:1 confirms, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty." And in John 1:3 we read, "Through him [God] all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made." If you believe this Bible account then the discovery of a ‘god’particle makes perfect sense.

In the beginning God created the heavens...View from Hubble

telescope. Getty Photos

God created it along with everything else out of nothing and left it there for a purpose known only to him. Science has so far been unable to explain certain natural phenomena like gravity, animal migration, black holes, supernovas or the totality of how the universe fits together. Answers to these questions and others like it have eluded the intellect of man. Perhaps it is because this knowledge belongs to God, the creator, alone. Noted physicist Gerald Myatt admits that many phenomena in the universe defy a logical explanation: "It has taught me that there are laws in the universe that science is powerless to explain. We understand the laws of physics, but where did the laws themselves come from? Why do they work?"

From a purely religious perspective, one can theorize that this ‘god’ particle (subatomic mass) is somehow exerting a controlling influence on other particle mass in the universe (earth included) acting, if you will, as God’s remote controlling device. I propose that the ‘god particle’ is a type of game controller for the universe or, in medical terminology, a kind of PICC line for God to facilitate the delivery of future events. These future events are foretold in the Bible: “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind (Isaiah 65:16-18); and “Looking for the hastening of the coming day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat. Nevertheless, we, according to his [God’s] promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (2 Peter 2:12-13)."

Likewise, the Bible foretold the coming of a Savior who would save the world from sin. Christians believe this prophesy was fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. The existence of many irrefutable historical facts as recorded in the holy scriptures and elsewhere support this claim. But don't just take anybody's word for it. You owe it to yourself to learn more about God's plan for the universe and where you fit in. For starters, I recommend Rick Warren's best selling book, "The Purpose Driven Life." It will help you find out what on earth you're here for.

Love well: how to cultivate a healthy relationship

“In order to be involved in the world in a healthy way, you have to have healthy relationships.” Poet Haki Madhubuti
“Brain about to burst at the seams of unspoken thoughts. Two people, each in their own eyesight, blameless. Although confessing in hindsight, better choices could have made conflict unnecessary.” Poet Carolyn K. Erwin

Rodney Peete and Holly Robinson Peete (Getty Photos)

Nowadays, it seems that more people are looking for love in all the wrong places, for all the wrong reasons, and as a result, winding up with the wrong people in their lives. In my previous article, “Lovesick: how to make your relationship work for you,” I talked about what it takes to have a meaningful and lasting relationship. In this article, I talk about what you can do to begin cultivating a healthy relationship.

The foundation for a healthy relationship begins with you. For starters, ask yourself the following questions (Later, the same or similar questions may be asked of the other person):

1. What do I want from a relationship? (List your top five)
2. What do I want my life to be now and in the future?
3. What are my five best and worst qualities that I bring to a relationship?
4. In thinking about a potential partner, what are my “must haves” and “can’t stands”?
5. In a relationship, what are my likes and dislikes? (Consider any qualities, behaviors or character traits you would want in the other person)

If you’ve been honest with yourself, you should now know a lot more about what you need and want in a relationship. And more important, you should have a better picture of the type of man or woman who would potentially be a compatible match for you. Sometimes, however, a poor self-image or other dysfunctional inclination, will cause you to be attracted (sometimes repeatedly) to someone who is emotionally, psychologically or an otherwise unhealthy choice for you. If this sounds like you, consider this advice from relationship coach, Dr. Amy Johnson . First recognize the problem, then take deliberate steps to change the pattern of behavior that leads to it. Depending on the extent of the problem, it may require that you seek professional help. There is no shame in that. The object is for you to be healthy so that you can attract healthy relationships.

If you are spiritually minded, the Bible also has much to say, in general, on the subject of relationships; and the book of Proverbs offers specific advice on relationships of the heart. “Listen to counsel and receive instruction that you may be wise in your latter days" (Proverbs 19:20). In hindsight, how many would be willing to admit that your relationships might have turned out differently if only you had followed this path? Well, knowing what you know now, it’s not too late to start over.

Lovesick: How to make your relationship work for you

“A wife must put her husband first. This is her duty as a follower of the Lord. A husband must love his wife and not abuse her." Colossians 3:18-19 CEV

After year-long rumors of a marital split, Baltimore-born actress Jada Pinkett-Smith and actor Will Smith are finally speaking out. Both gave recent, albeit separate, interviews publicly denying the tabloid reports that they are divorcing. What a relief. To their many fans, Will and Jada are publicly the perfect couple. If they can’t make it, who can? In today’s culture, it’s getting harder to find a true, meaningful, lasting relationship, let alone to maintain it. Surprisingly, after 37 years of steady increase, the rate of divorce in America is finally decreasing. But not because relationships are getting better; it's because fewer couples are getting married. Instead, more couples are choosing the less legally binding, non-committed arrangement of living together. Added to this is the fact that the number of young, single, unwed mothers has risen sharply in recent years. According to a recent New York Times article, more than half of births to American women under 30 occur outside marriage. In the words of Bob Dylan, Times they are a changin .

What is a love starved, lovesick man or woman to do in light of such grim prospects for the perfect hook-up? Certainly, the 70's mantra “love the one you’re with” is not the answer. Forget Cinderella and Prince Charming. Get your head out of the clouds and come back to reality. If you want a good relationship, you've got to work for it and work at it. Animals copulate, humans commit. God's highest and best intention when he created man and woman was for them to be joined together as one flesh. But before there can be oneness there must be wholeness. Wholeness is when two complete individuals come together in relationship and embrace the totality of what they can be as a couple. Before you try to couple with someone else, first get to know who YOU are. Go deep. Engage in some introspection and soul searching. Explore all the aspects of your being. Know what you want your life to be regardless of whether you are coupled or not.

In most cases, in order to get the most out of the experience, you'll need to engage in exploratory relationships to learn what you like and don't like; and to get the feedback you need from others. A word of wisdom. So as not to cloud your judgement or distort your perspective, it would be advisable for you not to engage in pre-marital sex as part of relationship exploration. Don't give in to a moment's desire and ruin your chance at future happiness. As Polonius advised his son, Laertes in Shakespeare's Hamlet: “This above all, to thine own self be true; and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man." What Polonius is saying is "[be] loyal to your own best interests." Relationships fail when one party (or both) gives more or settles for less than he or she deserves; or lowers his or her personal standards for the sake of being in the relationship.

A problem arises when we enter relationships without really knowing the other person or what we want out of the relationship. Initially, we may be attracted to the obvious---good (acceptable) looks, sex, money, intelligence, sense of humor, job, potential, how we’re treated---these qualities are part of the attractiveness, but may not survive past the “glow” phase. The “glow” phase being that brief period (usually 6 to 12 months if that long) during the early stages of a relationship when both sides are on their best behavior. Through rose colored glasses, anything he or she does or says looks good. The obvious red flags are largely ignored, excused, or swept under the rug for the sake of getting along. And in the language of avoidance, "Let's move on" becomes a learned way of dealing with conflict only to have it resurface at some point in the future. Unresolved conflict poisons relationships.

When this happens, it is only a matter of time before the big reveal....that's when you find yourself in a relationship with someone you really don’t know or even worse, discover you don’t really like. Tina Turner's anthem, “What’s love got to do with it,” celebrates a kind of incidental, superficial love that lacks any hope of permanence. The song, which was a huge hit for Turner, ushered in the New Age concept of love and commitment., which differs greatly from what the Bible teaches us about love. Some relationships start out with a romantic ideal but soon the harsh realities take their toll; and the relationship begins to slowly unravel. If you are in an unhappy relationship, there is help for you. If you are now or have ever been a victim of an abusive relationship, there is help for you.

So what’s a woman or man, girl or boy to do to avoid the pitfall of relationship hell? Once again, it starts with you. Create a list of your best and worst qualities, along with a list of your likes and dislikes. Relationship expert, Dr. Neal Clark Warren, founder of EHarmony, calls them your “must haves and can’t stands.” Imagine how clear your choice of mate would be if only you decided in advance what you need and want in your relationships and what you don’t need and don’t want. Using food as an example, if you "can't stand" avocado you are unlikely to ever buy it, be attracted to it or be enticed by it. As for "must haves," if you know that milk is something you must have before going to bed each night you will make a deliberate effort to always keep it on hand.
 
But there are deeper, more fundamental issues that should be addressed beforehand because of their long-term consequences for the relationship. Issues such as communication, emotional maturity, compatibility, stability, work ethic, family and criminal background, and health to name a few. Add whatever else may be important to you. Write down your “must haves” and “can’t stands” under each category. Use these as a yardstick for measuring potential relationship choices. For example, if you can’t stand cigarette smoke, don’t choose someone who smokes.

Getting someone to quit an undesirable habit is a lot harder than choosing to be in relationship with someone who doesn’t have the behavior you object to. Or if you are a “feelings” kind of person and expressing feelings is a must have for you don’t choose someone who is emotionally unavailable (unable or afraid to express feelings). It will only lead to untold frustration and unhappiness for both of you. A final word of advice about your list. Establish a priority ranking of the items on your list so that most of what's important to you is at the top in the event you have to compromise on some of the lesser qualities that may not necessarily be deal breakers. Remember, you can't change anyone, but God can. In the end, relationships all come down to this,

Serenity Prayer

God grant me

The serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

The courage to change the things I can;

And the wisdom to know the difference.