The Boy Scouts Have Lost Their Honor

The Boy Scouts Have Lost Their Honor

“On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight” (Boy Scout oath). The futility of the wisdom of man is always found in the ever changing nature of the present age. Laws of men change with each generation suggesting that law is fluid with the whims of popular opinion. It is no wonder that chaos reigns in the affairs of men as they can never quite understand the necessity of absolute truth. The laws of God are the only laws that do not change.

Gravity is a law that has not changed since the beginning of time. Speaking of time it has never changed since the words of God formed the world “in the beginning” (Genesis 1:1). Life and death are constant in absolute truth. The four seasons have always been and will always be as prescribed by the law of God (Genesis 8:22) until time is no more. But the laws of man are not so. The Boys Scouts of America have abandoned their honor to bow to the minority influence. Recently the BSA has accepted homosexuality within their ranks.

The oath of the BSA was founded upon a “duty to God” but this is now only relative to a desire of man. Jesus said in Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” There is something Jesus called the “will of My Father.” This ‘will’ is a duty that all men must live under before their Creator. Like the days of Noah, men have returned to the carnal desires of their own fleshly passions. “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5).

Paul the apostle could be writing a letter to the United States when he penned, “Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness …” (Romans 1:24-29). So much for Boy Scout honor, truth and duty to God.

Great men have been Scouts (Gerald Ford, James Lovell, James Stewart, and Walter Cronkite). Greater men today will stand against the cowardly action of the BSA as they destroy one great bastion of honor and fidelity. To be “morally straight” is now “immorally crooked” embracing one of the greatest reasons our nation is being destroyed from within. There is no more moral conscience in America. “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight” (Isaiah 5:20-21). God bless America?

Gather, Hear, Learn And Teach 

“Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children” (Deuteronomy 4:10). When the people of God were gathered at Mt. Sinai (Horeb) to receive the law they were given four directives that would guide their lives. Contained within this admonition is the same principle the people of God must follow today.

“Gather the people Me.” The Lord has always wanted men to seek Him. As the people assembled beneath the terrible image of Sinai the Lord wanted them to be brought close to see His power and hear His law. We must come to God to know His will and to seek Him to understand His grace. Later in Deuteronomy 4 Moses reminds the people how they will need to “seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul” (v29). The reason that many people do know God is they do not seek Him. Zephaniah writes, “Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together … seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility” (Zephaniah 2:1-3). To know the Lord we must first gather to Him and seek His will.

“Let them hear My words.” Two voices challenge the will of man: the voice of man’s reason and the voice of God. More often the will of man chooses to heed the will of man’s reason and knowledge. The flood (Genesis 6-8) is a result of man seeking his own wisdom. The wise man reminds us “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 16:25). The words of eternal life can only come from Him who possess eternity. Simon Peter answered Jesus, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).

“Learn to fear Me.” Hearing the word of God brings the fear of the Lord. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7). This is a respectful fear of the power of God tempered by the grace of God. Learning to fear God understands how dependent we are upon Him. He provides everything we have (Matthew 5:45; Haggai 2:8). His judgments cause us to fear Him. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). “Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off” (Romans 11:22).

“Teach their children.” The word of God is not for one generation but for all generations. His love should be passed down from generation to generation. What was good for my ancestors is good for me. God’s message of hope and salvation will save a man in 1492 as well as 2013. Children need to know the love of God and the message of His will. They need to learn to gather with God for wisdom and understanding. The words of the Father must be in their ears to guide them (Proverbs 6:20-23). Fearing God is needed by every young person to guide them in life. “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:7).

Gather, hear, learn and teach: four principles that will bring peace and happiness in life. Gather to God, hear from God, learn from God and then teach what you have gathered, heard and learned to others.

God's Gracious Grace

God’s Gracious Grace 

When man takes a deep look at himself and considers his relationship with his Creator and Savior, the only words left on his lips tremble from the lesson of Christ when He said, “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do’” (Luke 17:10). To find oneself in a position of being unprofitable is to be unworthy and useless. Physically man was created from dirt and spiritually he rebelled against the loving favor of his Maker. It must bring amazement to the angels at the pride of man who seek to make himself god and declare his own worth according to the insolence of his heart. Jeremiah declared, “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). Proverbs 14:12 shows “there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (also Proverbs 16:25). All in all man has little to brag about.

When man takes a deep look at himself and considers the grace of God, the story changes. It is an immediate message of hope and grace when in the garden the Lord offers man the promise of redemption. Speaking to Satan, God says, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” (Genesis 3:15). Man is not destroyed by God but saved by God and this is grace. What did man do to deserve the merits of God’s favor? Nothing. What could man do to save himself? Nothing – when he heard the Lord walking in the garden the only thing he knew to do was to hide. We are saved by God’s grace.

Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord (Genesis 6:8) and “eight souls, were saved through water” (1 Peter 3:20). Did Noah understand the flood was coming apart from the Lord and when he heard of the destruction did he know what to do? The answer remains that man without God is nothing but God’s grace makes man worth something. When David sinned with Bathsheba Nathan told him, "The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die” (2 Samuel 12:13). Why? The grace of God. Jesus Christ declared to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you" (Matthew 9:2). How could He do such a thing? The grace of God.

Is there anything you and I can do that would merit God’s grace? Only one thing: “Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory” (Isaiah 43:7). The gift of His Son is the price of God’s grace for man and man can do nothing to repay that debt. Can I live a sinless life to perfection to gain God’s grace? No. Paul declared, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:24-25). Grace will be measured by my obedience to the will of God (Matthew 7:21) and through that grace I will live in the assurance of my salvation (Isaiah 32:17; Hebrews 10:22).

God’s grace allows me the blessing of knowing that death is only a bridge that takes me from this place of sorrow to the heavenly promise of redemption. I know I am saved (1 John 5:13) and the knowledge of that salvation is because of the mercy of my Father who does not condemn me (Romans 8:1). Unprofitable servants is the best we can do but the best God had is what He gave us. Thank you God for YOUR grace.

The Meanest Mother In The World (Author Unknown)

The Meanest Mother in the World

(Author Unknown)

I had the meanest mother in the world.  While other kids ate candy for breakfast, I had to have cereal, eggs and toast.  When others had cokes and candy for lunch, I had to eat a sandwich.  As you can guess, my supper was different than the other kids also.  But at least I was not alone in my suffering.  My sister and two brothers had the same mean mother I did.

My mother insisted upon knowing where we were all the time.  You’d think we were on a chain gang.  She had to know who our friends were and what we were doing.  She insisted, if we said we’d be gone an hour, that we be gone an hour or less, not one hour and one minute.  I am almost ashamed to admit it, but she actually struck us.  Not once, but each time we did as we pleased.  Can you imagine someone actually hitting a child just because he disobeyed?  Now you can begin to see how mean she really was.

The worst is yet to come.  We had to be in bed by nine each night and up early the next morning.  We could not sleep until noon like our friends.  So while they slept my mother actually had the nerve to break the child labor law.  She made us work.  We had to wash dishes, make the beds, and learn to cook and all sorts of cruel things.  I believe the laid awake nights thinking up mean things to do to us.

She always insisted upon our telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth even if it nearly killed us – and it nearly did.  By the time we were teenagers, she was much worse and wiser and our lives became even more unbearable.  None of this tooting the horn of a car for us to come running.  She embarrassed us to no end by making our dates and friends come to the door and get us.  I forgot to mention: while my friends were dating at the mature age of 12 or 13, my old fashioned mother refused to let me date until the age of 15 and 16.  Fifteen, that is, if you date only to go to a school function and that was maybe twice a year.

My mother was a complete failure as a mother.  None of us have ever been arrested or beaten his mate.  Each of my brothers served his time in the service of this country.  And whom do we have to blame for the terrible way we turned out?  You are right, our mean mother.

Look at all the things we missed.  We never go to march in a protest parade, nor to take part in a riot, burn our draft card and a million and one things that our friends did.  She forced us to grow us into God-fearing, educated, honest adults.

Using this as a background I am trying to raise my three children.  I stand a little taller and I am filled with pride when my children can me mean.  Because you see, I thank God he gave me the MEANEST MOTHER IN THE WORLD.

A Living Presence (A Parable)

A Living Presence

(A Parable)

A young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is the way long?" she asked.  And the guide answered, "Yes, and the way is hard.  And you will be old before you reach the end of it.  But the end will be better than the beginning."

But the young mother was happy and she could not believe that anything could be better than these days.  So she played with her children, and gathered flowers for them along the way.  And the sun shone on them and life was good.  And the young mother cried, "Nothing can be lovelier than this."

Then came night and storm; and the path was dark and the children shook with fear and cold.  But the mother drew close to them and covered them with her mantle, and the children said, "We are not afraid, mother, for you are near; and no harm can come to us."  And the mother said, "This is better than the brightness of day, for I have taught my children courage."

And the morning came and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary.  But at last she said to the children, "A little patience and we will be there."  So the children climbed and when they reached the top they said, "we could not have done this without you, mother."

And that night the mother looked up at the stars and said, "This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of hardship.  Yesterday I gave them courage; today I gave them strength."

And the next day came strange clouds which darkened the earth - clouds of war and hate and evil, and the children groped and stumbled.  The mother said, "Look up: lift your eyes to the light."  And the children looked and saw above the clouds the everlasting light, and it guided them and brought them beyond the darkness.  And that night the mother said, "This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God.

And the days went on and the weeks and the months and years, and the mother grew aged, and she was little and bent. But the children were tall and strong and walked with courage.  And when the way was hard, they lifted her over the rough places.  At last they came to a hill and beyond the hill they could see a shining road and the golden gates and they flung wide.    

And the mother said, "I have reached the end of my journey, and now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and their children after them."  And the children said, "You will always walk with us, mother!"  They stood and watched her walk through the golden gate; then the gates closed after her.  And they said, "We cannot now see our mother but she is with us still - she is a living presence."

Choices Today Are Decisions Tomorrow

Choices Today Are Decisions Tomorrow 

From the beginning of time God has given man the ability to choose his destiny. Placing Adam and Eve in the garden, the Lord told them they could eat of every tree of the garden “but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:17). Man had a choice. For a time he honored that law until Satan came in Genesis 3 and said, “Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'" (Genesis 3:1)? The lie from Satan was to convince man he was not forbidden to do what he wanted and the choice was his and his alone to make. Choice was taken from the restrictions of God’s law to the freedom of man to reject God’s law and live for himself. Satan lied and man fell from the favor of the Lord and sin reigned in the hearts of men.

The devil continues to play the same mournful tune of rebellion to the will of God. He whispers in the ear that freedom is the key and choices made will never require payment. Eat, drink, be merry and live for life now for there are no decisions impacted by choices today. The truth is explained by Jesus in John 8:44 – “… the devil … was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” The truth that will never change is that choices made today will impact decisions lived tomorrow. From the beginning of time the Lord has told man that in accordance with the natural law, “Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life” (Galatians 6:7-8).

Good choices today make for brighter days tomorrow. Joseph made the right choices throughout his life and was blessed in many ways (Genesis 39). David made a bad decision one day and suffered a life-time of regret (2 Samuel 11-12; Psalm 51). Daniel and his three friends made a crucial decision to reject the “king’s delicacies” in Daniel 1 that would serve them with courage and faith to face the execution of the wise men (Daniel 2), a fiery furnace (Daniel 3) and a den of lions (Daniel 6). If they had not made the right choice in Daniel 1 the other challenges they faced would have ended in failure.

Young people are told to live life to the fullest without the expectation there will be consequences. Alcohol, drugs, sexual freedom will not lead to productive lives but ruined families, guilt and lives filled with the misery that attends the sharpened tongue of Satan’s whispers. Wealth and prosperity are the golden trinkets that charm the hearts of people to plunge deep into debt denying the reckoning day when payments must be made. Lifestyles are accepted as pleasured fulfillment that only ends in the sludge of wasted life. When the devil finished with Adam and Eve the only thing they felt was shame and fear (Genesis 3:8-10).

The apostle Paul gave his benediction to ‘right choices’ when facing death. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). His life had been about good choices. It is not so much what a man says in life but what a man says in death that marks his course of the kind of choices he made. Paul found his life a blessing because he chose God. What will you choose? It matters!