Prayerful Activity

By Dale Weckbacher

2 Thessalonians 3:1

Finally, brothers,^[a] pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored,^[b] as happened among you,

(ESV)

As the Apostle Paul concludes his second letter to the Church in Thessalonica, he urges them to pray for him (2 Thessalonians 3:1-5).  The members of the church in Thessalonica were eye witnesses to how extreme persecution against church leaders could result in them being separated and run out of town (Acts 17:1-9).  He urges them to pray for the deliverance of their church leaders from wicked and evil men, reminding them that not all have faith (2 Thessalonians 3:2).  He then reminds them that the Lord is faithful and will establish them and guard them from the evil one.  He goes on to remind them that their confidence is to be in the Lord and to allow the Lord to direct their hearts toward the love of God and to be steadfast in their faith in Christ (2 Thessalonians 3:3-5).

Paul then goes on by warning them against being idle in their faith (2 Thessalonians 3:6-15).  Paul’s warning is stern for it comes with instructions to keep away with any brother or sister walking in idleness and not in accordance with the tradition they had received from Paul (2 Thessalonians 3:6).  We must now ask, what does Paul mean by idleness in our walk and what is the tradition he imparted to the church in Thessalonica.

1)      Idleness – When most of us think of someone being idle, we tend to think of someone being lazy.  However, the Greek word translated Idle in 2Thessalonians 3:6 means behaving immorally and disorderly.  (1)  While Christianity is an active religion where God encourages believers to actively be about the work of the Gospel, Paul is not telling believers to shun those who attend church but are not active in service to the church.  Instead, he is urging us to shun anyone who behaves immorally or disorderly for failure to do this results in the condoning of sinful and disorderly behavior which acts as a cancer that eventually leads to destruction of the church body just as cancer causes death to our physical bodies.

2)      Tradition – Even though Paul’s time with the Thessalonians was short, it did demonstrate Paul’s steadfastness of faith in extreme persecution.  His constant desire to see them again which resulted in the two letters he wrote demonstrates a heart of love towards those he brought to the faith.  His desire was that the church in Thessalonica imitate this steadfastness of faith and heart of love.  He also urges them to imitate his hard labor for the Gospel and not resort to becoming busybodies spreading gossip.  For those that resort to gossip, Paul urges them to work quietly earning their livings because when we remain busy we do not have time for idle gossip (2 Thessalonians 3:7-12). 

Paul’s final warning to the church in Thessalonica is not to grow weary in our good labors and not to regard those living in disobedience as enemies but to warn them as brothers.  As believers, our hearts desire must be the restoration of those living in disobedience back to the faith.  If we regard them as enemies, we sever any relationship with them and any hope of their restoration to the faith.  Paul is telling us to shun their behavior but not to shun them as a person for no matter how abhorrent their behavior might be, they are still a sinner Jesus came to die for as are we all. 

Jesus new commandment to his church was that they love one another for it is this love for one another is what tells the world we follow Christ (John 13:34-35).  However, when one of our members lives in idle disobedience or in immorality we must shun this behavior while preserving brotherly love for them so they know we will welcome them back into our fellowship once they abstain from their disobedient or immoral behavior.  Forgiveness of this level is uncommon in our world and is what sets the Church apart from others in our world.  

Paul concludes by praying that the church in Thessalonica would experience the peace of God, that the Lord be with them all, and that the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with them all.  I also want to conclude this study in 2 Thessalonians by praying my readers will also experience the peace and grace of God knowing that God will be with you. 

1. Strongs Concordance. KJV W/ STRONGS BIBLE - 2 THESSALONIANS 3. www.godrules.net. [Online] Bibleexplore.com. [Cited: November 26, 2016.] http://www.godrules.net/library/strongs2b/gre814.htm

Confidence in a Sure Thing

By:  Dale Weckbacher

2 Corinthians 3:4-5

 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. ⁵ Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,

(ESV)

The stormy electoral aftermath in the United States serves as a reminder of how our lives can crumble when they are built upon a sandy foundation.  Void of a firm foundation in their lives, some individuals now find themselves protesting and rioting believing that if they just speak louder someone will hear them and their lives will change. (1) Celebrities threaten to leave but somehow never do when they realize that it is the liberties of this great nation that has enabled them to become wealthy. (2) Other celebrities have even resorted to talking to rocks in an effort to find some stability in their lives. (3) Such is the state of affairs when one chooses to build the stability of their lives on the sandy foundation of government and elected officials promising to provide for their every need. 

I therefore want to urge the loud protestors and rioters, rich celebrities threatening to leave the country whose liberties enabled them to amass great wealth, and even those wacky celebrities seeking answers from rocks to pause and learn from Jesus when he said,

Luke 6:46-49

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?⁴⁷ Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: ⁴⁸ he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.^[c] 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

(ESV)

The election did not go the way you wanted but instead of rioting, protesting, issuing idle threats, or even resorting to talking to rocks that can do nothing, heed these wise words.  I understand that some of you may not even believe in God but since you have just witnessed the crumbling of the foundation upon which you had built your life, why not try God. 

I encourage you to try the sure rocky foundation of faith in God by,

1)      Accepting Jesus as your savior – The first step in changing the foundation of our lives involves moving the building of our lives from its current sandy foundation to the foundation of the rock of belief in God.  No one can come to God the Father unless he or she comes through Jesus Christ (John 14:6).  This is because we all have sin in our lives and must first remove that sin in order to approach God.  Our works are insufficient to atone for our sins (Isaiah 64:6), therefore we need the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ to cover our sins and bring us near to God (Ephesians 2:13).  I therefore encourage those reading this who have not already done so to move the foundation of your life from its current shifting sandy foundation to the rock of Jesus Christ by praying with me,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

2)      Seek someone who has built their life on the foundation of God and His Word – Simply placing a building on a firm foundation is not sufficient for insuring its stability for a building must be properly anchored to that foundation.  The first step to beginning this process in our lives is to find someone who has already anchored their lives on the sure foundation of Jesus Christ.  I recommend finding someone you trust who is not a new convert to Christianity but someone who has lived many years with their lives anchored on the foundation of Christ. 

3)      Find a group of other believers in Christ (aka a church) – Being part of a group helps us realize we are not alone and that others believe as we do.  However, if you just accepted Jesus as your savior, you most likely have no idea how to find a good church.  Not all churches are created equal and it is important for you to find a church teaching the truths of the Bible the Word of God.  The best place to find this church is the person you sought out in step 2 for they most likely already attend a good church.  If, however, you were unable to find such a person, do not fear but begin attending churches seeking one where the person in the pulpit teaches out of the Bible.  

4)      Begin studying the Word of God yourself – Communication is necessary in any relationship including a relationship with God.  While group study of the Word of God is necessary, each of our life situations is unique.  We therefore must seek a one-on-one relationship with God.  God has given us His Word, the Bible and is how he speaks with us.  Personal study of the Bible gives God an opportunity to speak with each of us on a one-on-one basis.

Those of us who have made the decision to make Jesus Christ our Savior have chosen to place the foundation of our lives on a sure thing.  As such, our lives are not ruined by who wins an election for we have confidence our God will be with us (Psalm23:4).  If you have not already done so, please join us now in building your life on this sure foundation. 

1. Blue, Officer. To Election Protesters: What Are You Trying To Accomplish? bluelivesmatter.blue. [Online] Blue Lives Matter, November 9, 2016. [Cited: November 19, 2016.] http://bluelivesmatter.blue/trump-election-protesters/.

2. Staff, Newsday.com. Celebrities who said they'll leave America if Donald Trump becomes president. www.newsday.com. [Online] Newsday, November 12, 2016. [Cited: November 19, 2016.] http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/celebrities/celebrities-who-said-they-ll-leave-america-if-donald-trump-becomes-president-1.12588837.

3. Fox News. Lena Dunham Travels to AZ to Mourn Trump's Win, Asks Nature for 'Guidance'. insider.foxnews.com. [Online] Fox News, November 17, 2016. [Cited: November 19, 2016.] http://insider.foxnews.com/2016/11/17/lena-dunham-vacations-az-after-donald-trumps-win-asks-nature-guidance.

Standing Strong with Thanksgiving

By:  Dale Weckbacher

2 Thessalonians 2:13

But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by
the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be
saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.

(ESV)

We began our study in Thessalonians by looking at the stormy beginning of the church in Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-9).  Because he was unable to remain in Thessalonica, however, Paul was unsure how strong these new believers would be in the face of persecution.  For this reason Paul sent Timothy to check on their welfare and was encouraged by the good report Timothy gave him (1 Thessalonians 3:6-13).  The strength of the church in Thessalonica was not built on the foundation of Paul being with them but instead was a strength based the sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth of the Word of God (2 Thessalonians 2:13). 

Even though most of us like to think we stand strong upon our own strength, the truth is we all stand strong based upon belief in something we see as bigger than ourselves.  For some this is a belief that they can stand strong based upon their education.  While education is important and can open doors of opportunity for us, it is not something we should base our entire lives upon. 

I graduated college with a degree in business and believed this knowledge would take me to the top of the business world.  However, once beginning my career in the real world it soon became evident my education only provided basic knowledge of business.  The real education process was only beginning and was ever changing as the business climate and technology changed.  In other words, the foundation of education is a sandy foundation that is ever shifting and not something we want to base our entire lives upon.

Some base their lives on their vast experience.  While experience is important, our world is in a constant state of change that can change the way things are done.  When I graduated from college in 1975 with my business degree, computers were something only large companies could afford.  My first job after entering the business world was with a small company helping them set up an accounting system.  The only electronic tool available was a calculator.  The books were kept on paper using journals and ledgers. 

I later found a job with a company doing their payroll.  This was a larger company that did the payroll on a computer.  All my experience had not prepared me for this change and I had to start all over learning something new.  As my career has advanced, I continually find myself having to learn new things.  My experience serves to tell me that things continually change and that I need to learn to adapt to these changes.  Experience like education is a sandy foundation upon which to base our lives and only serves to remind us we must continually adapt to changes around us. 

Unfortunately, others base their lives on the belief that their government will take care of their needs.  President Reagan said it well when he said, “the scariest words in the English language are, I’m from the government and I’m here to help.” (1) The riots and whining following the recent presidential election in the United States demonstrate the sandiness of this foundation for we are witnessing those erroneously building their lives on cradle to grave dependency on government reacting to seeing that foundation crumble. 

Jesus instructed his followers not to build the house of their lives on sand but to instead build their lives upon the rock of His words (Matthew 7:24-27).  Since Jesus is God (John 1:1), his instruction means we are to base our lives upon the sure foundation of the Word of God.  The church in Thessalonica remained strong even in the middle of extreme persecution because their foundation was based upon the Word of God shared by Paul when he had been with them and the letters he sent to them (2Thessalonians 2:14-15).  However, the truth is that since Paul’s spoken and written words were based upon the Word of God, their strength was based upon the Word of God. 

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day in the United States, a day set aside to reflect on what we are all thankful for.  I am thankful that I can stand strong on the Word of God and unlike the church in Thessalonica which only had the spoken and written letters from Paul, we have the benefit of easy access to the Word of God through the Bible in the form of a book, on our computers, smart phones, and tablets.  If you are reading this and have placed the foundation of your life on some sandy foundation, I want to encourage you on this day before Thanksgiving to place the foundation of your life on the sure foundation of the Word of God. 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone and may God richly bless your lives and join me in being thankful for the sure foundation of our salvation in Jesus Christ and His Word. 

1. youtube. The Nine Most Terrifying Words. www.youtube.com. [Online] Youtube, August 6, 2011. [Cited: November 19, 2016.] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhYJS80MgYA.

Who Voted for Trump?

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Matthew 4:14-15

so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

¹⁵ “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
    the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
¹⁶ the people dwelling in darkness
    have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
    on them a light has dawned.”

(ESV)

Logic would tell us that the Son of God would have spent his time on earth with the elite religious leaders of his time.  This, however, is another example of human logic which is not how God thinks.  Instead, Jesus, the Son of God chose to dwell and pick his disciples from among the ordinary people of Galilee. 

In the time of Christ, Israel was divided into three geographic areas, Judea, Samaria, and Galilee.  Not only was there a geographic division but each of these regions had its own distinct culture.  Archaeological evidence has now revealed that those inhabiting Galilee during the time of Christ were immigrants from Judea.  The term Galilean seems to be used as a pejorative meaning outsider or someone not an old Jew of the traditional sort.  (1)  In the United States this is like someone being called a redneck living in fly-over country.  However, Jesus did not consider them second-class citizens and demonstrated that by choosing Galilee as the place he would do most of His ministry and choose his disciples from among the Galileans. 

While many in the United States were shocked at the election of Donald Trump to the Presidency, if we look at who voted for him, there should be little shock.  Much like the despised people of Galilee, many in the United States felt forgotten by the political elites that have held power in government and saw in Donald Trump a Washington outsider who empathized with their situation and had the strong leadership skills to enact changes in government that addressed their situation.  Those that elected Donald Trump are,

1)      Joe the plumber – In 2008 a little-known plumber encountered presidential candidate Barack Obama during a campaign stop in Ohio.  The encounter went viral and became a topic of one of the presidential debates.  (2)  Joe the Plumber represents tradesmen across the nation who are plumbers, carpenters, auto mechanics etc.  As an accountant and writer who is a bumbling idiot when it comes to these trades, I am thankful for men and women working in these trades.  Unfortunately, however, the political elite in Washington DC, and Democrat nominee for president Hillary Clinton, considers these people deplorable.  (3)  In Donald Trump, these hard-working people saw someone who honored their contribution to our society.

2)      Mike the miner – In the 1980’s I had a job working in inventory control for a company selling tires to mines.  My employer had consignment inventories at these mine sites and part of my job duties were to visit these mines to conduct inventories.  I had an opportunity to see how hard these individuals work and heard stories from these miners about the dangers in their jobs.  These miners are motivated to do these jobs despite the dangers because they make it possible for us to have steel to make cars, and coal to produce energy.  Unfortunately, however, the political elite in Washington DC views their labor as destructive to the environment and pile onerous regulations on their industries threatening, and even promising, to do away with their jobs.  (4)  These people voted for Donald Trump to save their jobs, which is most likely why Donald Trump won in states like Pennsylvania.

3)      Steve the steel worker – Steel working, once a major industry providing jobs for steel workers living in the “rust belt” has been in a decline for many years.  (5)  This decline is mostly fueled by an increase in steel produced in China where the industry is government-owned.  Donald Trump campaigned on a promise of tariffs on steel imports.  While this seems logical because it cuts into profits on foreign steel, it could lead to higher prices for steel and items made from it.  However, Donald Trump also campaigned on reducing corporate taxes 20 percent by reducing the rate from 35% to 15%.  This reduction in taxes will make it possible for U.S, steel companies to once again begin producing domestic steel competitively.  Tax breaks coupled with tariffs on foreign steel will make it possible to keep steel prices at their current levels as domestic steel companies can profitably produce steel at current prices.  Steel workers, especially those in Pennsylvania voted to create steel jobs that have been lost. 

4)      Al the accountant – It is not only blue collar workers who voted for Trump but also white collar workers like Al the accountant.  In September of 2016, McDonald’s announced its intention of outsourcing 70 white-collar professional jobs to foreign H-1B visa workers.  (6)  McDonalds is not alone in this move towards firing U.S. citizens in favor of hiring H-1B immigrants.  (7)(8)  In a campaign speech in Coral Gables Florida, Donald Trump promised to end the H1-B Visa program.  (9)  Like Joe the plumber, Al the accountant along with other professionals voted for Donald Trump to protect their jobs from replacement by foreign H-1B employees. 

5)      Frank the farmer – The Obama administration rule restricting use of small waterways by farmers has been ruled by the farmers largest lobbying group as dangerous.  This ruling places streams, ponds, wetlands, and other waterways under the regulation of the Clean Water Act.  (10)  These additional regulations mean that farmers will be required to conduct environmental impact studies and acquire the acquisition of additional permits for water necessary for growing crops.  These additional costs will most likely put small farms, already operating on slim profit margins, out of business and mean higher prices at the grocery store for everyone. 

On Election Day, we witnessed the rising up of ordinary Americans at the polls propelling Donald Trump to victory.  These are the very people whose hard work throughout the history of the United States have made America Great.  Donald Trump campaigned with the theme of “Making America Great Again,” This message resonated with these hard-working Americans who want to make America great once again through their hard labor. 

America has grown to be a great nation and super power not due to its government but due to the hard work of American citizens.  With the election of Donald Trump, the United States has an opportunity to once again be restored to its position of greatness in the world.  It is therefore time for us all to work with the incoming Trump administration and make America great once again. 

1. Travelujah. Who were the "Galileans" in the Days of Jesus? www.travelujah.com. [Online] Travelujah. [Cited: November 12, 2016.] http://www.travelujah.com/articles/entry/Who-were-the-Galileans-in-the-Days-of-Jesus-.

2. Youtube. 'Joe the Plumber' Becomes Focus of Debate. www.youtube.com. [Online] Youtube, October 15, 2008. [Cited: November 12, 2016.] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUvwKVvp3-o.

3. Murdock, Deroy. Hillary apparently doesn’t think very much of her countrymen. www.nationalreview.com. [Online] The National Review, September 12, 2016. [Cited: November 12, 2016.] http://www.nationalreview.com/article/439969/hillary-clintons-basket-deplorables-trump-supporter-comments-malign-americans.

4. Leahy, Michael Patrick. Hillary Clinton Promise: ‘We’re Going to Put a Lot of Coal Miners and Coal Companies Out of Business’. www.breitbart.com. [Online] Breitbart News, March 14, 2016. [Cited: August 26, 2016.] http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/03/14/hillary-clinton-promise-were-going-to-put-a-lot-of-coal-companies-and-coal-miners-out-of-business/.

5. Gibson, Thomas J. The crisis facing the U.S. steel industry. www.cnn.com. [Online] CNN, March 23, 2016. [Cited: November 12, 2016.] http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/23/opinions/american-steel-industry-gibson-schmitt/.

6. Monro, Neil. McDonalds Hires Foreign H-1Bs, Fires 70 American Accounting Staff. www.breitbart.com. [Online] Breitbart News, September 18, 2016. [Cited: November 12, 2016.] http://www.breitbart.com/2016-presidential-race/2016/09/18/mcdonalds-hires-foreign-h-1bs-fires-70-american-accounting-staff/

7. Munro, Neil. Caterpillar Hires H-1B Foreign Graduates, Dumps 300 American Professionals. www.breitbart.com. [Online] Breitbart News, September 6, 2016. [Cited: November 12, 2016.] http://www.breitbart.com/2016-presidential-race/2016/09/06/caterpillar-hires-h-1b-foreign-graduates-fires-300-american-professionals/.

8. Frankel, Judy. Insourcing: American Lose Jobs to H-1B Visa Workers. www.huffingtonpost.com. [Online] The Huffington Post, July 26, 2016. [Cited: November 12, 2016.] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/judy-frankel/insourcing-american-lose-_b_11173074.html.

9. Riddell, Kelly. Donald Trump vows to end H1-B visa program in GOP debate. www.washingtontimes.com. [Online] The Washington Times, March 10, 2016. [Cited: November 12, 2016.] http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/mar/10/donald-trump-vows-to-end-h1-b-visa-program-in-wash/.

10. Cama, Timothy. Ag lobby: Final EPA water rule is worse than proposal. www.thehill.com. [Online] The Hill, June 11, 2016. [Cited: November 12, 2016.] http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/244750-agriculture-lobby-epa-water-rule-is-worse-than-proposal.

The Man of Lawlessness and the Restrainer

By:  Dale Weckbacher

2 Thessalonians 2:5-7

Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? ⁶ And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. ⁷ For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.

(ESV)

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 is a teaching by Paul concerning the Man of Lawlessness Aka the Antichrist.  The purpose of the teaching is in response to an erroneous letter sent to the church in Thessalonica stating that the day of the Lord, or the second coming of Jesus, had already occurred (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2).  With the promise of the second coming of Jesus to take his church to be with Him as a source of comfort for the church (1 Thessalonians 4:18), this erroneous teaching would have been devastating to a church suffering persecution.  Aware of this false teaching, Paul addresses it by reminding them that the day of the Lord will not occur until the rebellion, and the coming of the Man of Lawlessness to power occurs (2 Thessalonians 2:3). 

This Man of Lawlessness is more commonly referred to as The Antichrist.  Paul goes on to tell us what the Antichrist will do once rising to power.  While many believe this man will be a political figure, 2 Thessalonians2:4-5 teaches that he will be someone removing every god or object of worship and take his seat in the Temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.  However, 2 Thessalonians 2:6 reveals the existence of a restrainer, or restraining force that is at work holding back Antichrist from taking power.

The lawlessness of the spirt of antichrist existed in the world during the time of Paul and still exists today (1 John 4:2-3).  However, the restrainer is still in place preventing The Antichrist from rising to power leading us to ask, who is this restrainer?

The answer unfortunately is unclear with some believing it is the Holy Spirit present in every believer and others believing it is Michael the Arch Angel.  (1)  However, I believe the specific identity of the restrainer is unimportant for if it was, Paul would have most likely identified it for us.  Instead, I view the existence of a restrainer as a demonstration of the grace and mercy of God holding back the ungodly Antichrist so everyone has an opportunity to receive Jesus as Savior and join Him when he returns to take his church home with Him (2 Peter 3:9).

If you are reading this and have already accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, rest assured, the day of the Lord has not come and even if you die before Jesus returns, you will precede those still alive and meet Jesus in the air when he returns (1 Thessalonians 4:15).  However, if you are not one who has accepted Jesus as your Savior, I want to invite you to do so now before the restrainer is removed and the Man of Lawlessness, the Antichrist appears. 

Accepting Jesus as your savior is not difficult and does not require you to pay any penalty for your sins for Jesus has already done that with his death on the Cross.  All that is necessary is for you to ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and make Him Lord of your life.  Please take a moment to pray with me now and insure you escape the rule of the Man of Lawlessness,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

We do not want to be on this earth when the Man of Lawlessness, the Antichrist rises to power but instead want to be among those taken up to meet Jesus when he returns for His church.  Thankfully, there is a restrainer in place preventing the emergence of Antichrist but a day will come when that restrainer is removed.  I encourage you not to delay but to accept Jesus as your savior now before it is too late. 

1. Bible Study Tools. 14.4.2. Who is the Restrainer. www.biblestudytools.com. [Online] Bible Study Tools. [Cited: November 12, 2016.] http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/revelation/related-topics/who-is-the-restrainer.html.

What now? A Post Election Strategy to Regain Sanity

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Acts 3:19-20

¹ Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, ²⁰ that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, ²¹ whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

I was speaking with a co-worker the other day and we were discussing the World Series.  It was the day of game seven and he was for the Cubs and I, as someone born in Ohio was going for the Indians.  I mentioned to him that after tonight the World Series will be over and after November 8, the election will also be over.  I then asked him what we were going to do then.

As I am writing this, the election results have not been determined.  However, I believe there is a strategy for all of us to return to sanity after this tumultuous election regardless of who the winner is.  This strategy is based upon the belief that no matter who wins elections, God is not surprised by the result.  God has a plan for all of us that does not depend upon the winners of elections.  I therefore belief we can all return to sanity after this election by,

1)      Refreshing ourselves – The problems facing our nation still exist even though the election is over.  However, this does not mean we cannot take a break to refresh ourselves.  As a Christian I seek refreshing for my soul and spirit by focusing on the things of God.  Isaiah 40:8 reminds us that the things of this world symbolized in this passage by the grass and flowers fades but the Word of God remains forever.  Just as the grass and flowers, the political climate and elections change and come and go and if we put our trust in them, we will experience great joy or frustration that will most likely change when the next election comes around.  I therefore urge my readers to join me in spending time in prayer, fasting, and the Word of God for our souls and spirits to be refreshed after this tumultuous election. 

2)      Reconnect – One in 14 Americans claim to have lost a friend over the 2016 Presidential election.  (1)  There are also marriages where a spouse has considered divorce if their spouse votes for Donald Trump.  (2)  Relationships are vital to both our emotional and mental health.  I therefore urge any of my readers who have experienced the loss of a friendship or are facing a possible divorce over the election to attempt to reconnect with their friend and get help if necessary for their marriage.  I also urge those reading this to reconnect with activities that brought us happiness and joy.  We also have the holidays coming up which provide a great opportunity to reconnect, if we do not allow the subject of politics or the election to come up.

3)      React proactively – The fact that the election is over means that the United States will have a new President and Congress come January.  Whether our favorite candidate won or lost is not what is important for they are all flawed human beings.  They therefore will do and say things that will cause us to react.  I encourage everyone not to just react when a leader does something but to be proactive in our reaction by regularly communicating with our new leaders.  Granted they may not listen but if enough of us react proactively they should become concerned about the prospects of re-election to their position. 

The United States is a great nation and will continue to be great despite a divisive election cycle.  This is because we are a nation of great people.  What we the great people of the United States must do now is take time to refresh ourselves, reconnect with friends and most importantly our spouses, and react in a proactive manner as our new leaders begin to govern. 

Happy post-election everyone and may the peace and joy of the Lord keep you strong after a tumultuous divisive election cycle. 

1. Sheer, Holly. One In 14 Americans Has Lost A Friend Over This Presidential Election. thefederalist.com. [Online] The Federalist, October 6, 2016. [Cited: November 5, 2016.] http://thefederalist.com/2016/10/06/one-14-americans-lost-friend-presidential-election/.

2. Phillips, Michael M. Till Death—or Donald—Do Us Part: Couples Spar Over Trump. www.wsj.com. [Online] The Wall Street Journal, February 25, 2016. [Cited: November 5, 2016.] http://www.wsj.com/articles/till-deathor-donalddo-us-part-couples-spar-over-trump-1456362831.

Time for God’s People to Come Together: Studies in 2 Thessalonians (Part 2)

By:  Dale Weckbacher

John 13:35

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

(ESV)

We have just experienced one of the most divisive elections I can remember.  Hatred seems to be the norm in our world, especially during divisive elections like this one.  However, in John 13:35, Jesus tells his disciples this is not to be the way the world is to view the church.  Unfortunately, however, this has not been the norm throughout church history. 

Scripture uses marriage as a picture of Jesus relationship with His church.  Those reading this who are married understand that no marriage is perfect and that there will always be discord when you bring two people together.  When we accept Christ and become part of His church, we are thrust together with other people.  We also begin a relationship with Christ and even though we expressed our love for Jesus when we accepted Him as our savior, we still live in fleshly bodies and some of what Jesus asks us to do in His Word will conflict with our fleshly natures.  We therefore will experience discord among each other in the church as well as times of discord over what Jesus wants us to do.

However, just as in a marriage, we must work out these discords among us for a lost and dying world must see a unified church for why would they want to accept Christ and become part of something that is no different than what they see in the world.  We therefore as the church, the bride of Christ must work out our differences and unite by,

1)      Seeking forgiveness (Matthew 6:14-15) – Most of us have experienced hurt from someone we love.  When this hurt comes from someone in the Church, a place where we expect to find love and acceptance, this hurt is even more hurtful.  If we are the one who hurt someone else, we may experience guilt over what we have done.  Jesus instructed us to leave our gift on the alter when we become aware we have hurt a fellow brother or sister in the Lord and be reconciled.  By doing this we can avoid public humiliation by having our differences aired in a court of law.  This way instead of the world seeing the church air its differences publicly it sees how we can reconcile our differences among ourselves in a loving and productive manner.

2)      Praying for our own churches and other churches in our communities and world (James 5:16) – As we are beginning to see the erosion of religious liberty in many parts of the world, even the United States, (1) the body of Christ must unite.  Unfortunately, just as in the world, it is easy for us to become so busy with life and the affairs of our local church to ignore the needs of other churches in our communities.  I live in Phoenix Arizona, a large city with an abundance of different churches.  While each of these churches must focus on the needs of their congregations, I believe we also must take time to pray for the other churches in our communities for in God’s eyes, we are all part of the overall body of Christ.

3)      Unifying around the message of the Gospel (1Corinthians 2:1-2) – The reason why Christianity has a diverse collection of different denominations is due to theological differences in interpretation of scripture.  Instead of allowing these theological differences to bring division to the Body of Christ, I believe it is important for us to unite around the Gospel of Christ and fulfill the Great Commission of Christ and bring the Gospel to the lost (Mark 16:14-18).  It is this unity of purpose that will demonstrate the Church’s love for Christ and each other, drawing others to Christ and bringing about revival in our communities. 

It has been said that united we stand and divided we fall.  While this is true in all aspects of life, it is even more true for the Church which has been entrusted with the mission of proclaiming the Good News that Jesus has come and is coming again.  However, unlike the first coming of Jesus to bring salvation, the second coming is one that will bring judgment upon those who have not accepted Jesus as their savior (2 Thessalonians1:5-12).

Let us therefore as a church put aside our petty differences by seeking forgiveness from those we have hurt or who have hurt us.  Let us pray not just for our local congregation but for the church as a whole for after all, we are on the same team.  Let us put aside our petty theological differences and unify behind the purpose of bring the Gospel to those that do not know Christ as their savior.  A lost and dying world is seeking peace and hope in their lives.  Let them see the church as a place where they can find peace through the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. 

1. Smietana, Bob. Is Religious Liberty On The Decline In America? www.religiousfreedomcoalition.org. [Online] Religious Freedom Coalition, February 22, 2014. [Cited: October 22, 2016.] http://www.religiousfreedomcoalition.org/2014/02/22/is-religious-liberty-on-the-decline-in-america/.

Not a Fork in the Road, We Need an Off Ramp.

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Joel 3:14

Multitudes, multitudes,
    in the valley of decision!
For the day of the Lord is near
    in the valley of decision.

(ESV)

Election day is Tuesday.  For many reading this I hear a loud sigh of relief.  However, the work of taking our country back does not end after Tuesday no matter who is elected.  What differs is the work that must be done after Election Day. 

Joel 3:1-16 is a prophecy regarding the Lord’s judgment of the nations in the last days.  It is during this time that God will restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem (Joel 3:1) and gather all the nations for judgment down in the valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:2).  This Valley of Jehoshaphat, along with the valley of Megiddo or Armageddon are locations where scripture tells us the battles will occur at the second coming of Jesus.  (1)  These nations will incur judgment and must decide whether they will submit to the rule of Jesus Christ during his 1000-year millennial reign.

While this election is not on the same scale as the judgment of the Lord in the valley of Armageddon, it is an election which many believe will determine the direction of the United States for decades.  The main reason for this belief is because one of the first things the new President will do is select a justice to replace Justice Scalia.  While Donald Trump has pledged to select a strict constitutionalist, (2) Hillary Clinton will select another liberal justice to help advance an unconstitutional agenda.  (3)  Many have stated that the United States is at a fork in the road but I believe we are already on the road to socialism and are not at a fork in the road but in need of taking an off ramp back to what made this nation great. 

The second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence begins with the following statement,

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.  (4)

Those that authored the Declaration of Independence, the same people calling for independence from the tyrannical British crown, believed that rights were given to individuals from their creator and not government.  Unfortunately, liberals and progressives have infiltrated media and the education system.  Their efforts have successfully removed prayer from schools resulting in an increase in teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.  These deviant behaviors are what occurs when the moral compass of morality is removed.  (5)  In addition, the removal of the morality code (aka Hays Code) from movies and television has led to movies exploiting these deviant behaviors both on the big screen and television screens across the world (6) thus providing legitimacy to these deviant behaviors. 

The absence of God and any type of moral compass in the lives of individuals has created a massive hole in their hearts.  Since nature, including us, abhors voids, nature will always attempt to fill these voids with something else.  (7)  As Christians, we fill this void with Jesus Christ and place our trust in the never-failing Word of God.  However, for those lacking this stability in their lives, the place they turn to is government and some magical government program solving their problems. 

Since the effective removal of godly principles in our culture using both the media and education system, we have seen a dramatic increase in government spending as more and more government programs are instituted in an effort to fill the gaping hole created through the systematic removal of God.  The consequences of this has been increases in entitlement spending that has outpaced increases in revenue.  (8)

The spending numbers coupled with the increase in acceptance of deviant behavior in our society demonstrates that society, culture, and government has already entered the highway of socialism and over dependence on government lacking any moral compass of trust in God.  Therefore, the United States must exit this liberal progressive highway and instead enter the highway taking the nation back to the godly principles the founders outlined in the Declaration of Independence. 

While Donald Trump is not perfect, I believe he represents an off ramp towards the highway of restoration back to the founders’ godly principles.  The addition of Mike Pence to the GOP ticket points to a future of entering the highway of restoration as he will have an opportunity to run for president after citizens witness the benefits of turning back to the principles that made the United States great. 

As Election Day approaches, I encourage my fellow believers to vote for exiting the highway of liberal progressivism that has led to the moral and cultural decline of the nation by voting for Donald Trump this election despite his imperfections.  After all, we all have imperfections in our lives and thankfully God did not condemn us to eternal damnation because of them and instead sent His son, Jesus Christ to die for these imperfections. 

Psalm 33:12 tells us that a nation whose God is the Lord is blessed.  While the United States was established on the belief that God and not government granted citizens their rights, it has drifted from this belief and as a result is no longer blessed as it once was.  We therefore must get out and vote Tuesday, and vote for candidates that will begin the process of returning the nation back to its godly principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 

1. Christian forums. Valley of Jehoshaphat vs. Megiddo. www.christianforums.com. [Online] [Cited: October 30, 2016.] http://www.christianforums.com/threads/valley-of-jehoshaphat-vs-megiddo.7589047/.

2. Powerline. TRUMP PUTS OUT NEW LIST OF POTENTIAL SUPREME COURT NOMINEES. www.powerlineblog.com. [Online] Powerline, September 26, 2016. [Cited: October 29, 2016.] http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2016/09/trump-puts-out-new-list-of-potential-supreme-court-nominees.php.

3. Lat, David. Hillary Clinton’s Supreme Court Shortlist: 11 SCOTUS Possibilities. abovethelaw.com. [Online] Above the Law, August 1, 2016. [Cited: October 29, 2016.] http://abovethelaw.com/2016/08/hillary-clintons-supreme-court-shortlist-11-scotus-possibilities/.

4. ushistory.org. The Declaration of Independence. www.ushistory.org. [Online] [Cited: October 30, 2016.] http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/.

5. Brooks, Carol. Prayer in Schools. www.inplainsite.org. [Online] In Plain Site. [Cited: August 20, 2016.] 2016. http://www.inplainsite.org/what_happened_when_the_praying.html.

6. artsreformation.com. The Motion Picture Production Code of 1930 (Hays Code). artsreformation.com. [Online] [Cited: August 20, 2016.] http://www.artsreformation.com/a001/hays-code.html.

7. Our Daily Bread. Nature Abhors A Vacuum. obd.org. [Online] Our Daily Bread. [Cited: October 30, 2016.] http://odb.org/2011/01/21/nature-abhors-a-vacuum/.

8. Fraser, Alison Acosta. Federal Spending by the Numbers - 2012. www.heritage.org. [Online] The Heritage Foundation, October 16, 2012. [Cited: October 30, 2016.] http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2012/10/federal-spending-by-the-numbers-2012.

Stewards of the Gospel in the Last Days: A Study in 1 Thessalonians (Part 7)

By:  Dale Weckbacher

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11

For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. ¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

(ESV)

Biblical prophecy can be difficult to understand or interpret.  However, as we see the Day of the Lord, or the second coming of Jesus Christ approaching, understanding how end times events described in the Bible might occur becomes easier.  However, as we see the return of Christ approaching, let us not be passive spectators but instead let us be good stewards of the Gospel message we have received by sharing and living for Christ. 

Luke 19:11-27 contains Jesus’ parable of the “Ten Minas.”  This parable is Jesus teaching on stewardship and is usually used to teach the importance of giving as an investment in the work of the Lord.  Giving is important and is the only area of living for Christ where we are challenged to put God to the test (Malachi 3:10).  However, in a recent sermon at my church, I was challenged to look at this message of stewardship from a loftier point of view and want to share that point of view with my readers. 

We must begin by looking at this parable in its context.  Jesus had just entered Jericho and encountered Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector who had become wealthy, most likely from collecting taxes.  Zacchaeus may have become wealthy, but much like today was not a revered of respected member of society due to being a tax collector.  However, after encountering Jesus, he had a change of heart resulting in his giving half or his possessions to the poor and restoring 4-fold what he had stolen through his tax collecting efforts (Luke 19:1-8).  Jesus gladly received Zacchaeus joyfully and offered to stay at his house.  This caused a grumbling among those in the crowed prompting Jesus to state that salvation had come to the house of Zacchaeus due to his confession of faith and prompting Jesus to state his purpose for coming, the seeking and saving of the lost (Luke 19:6-10).

With this context in mind, we must ask what the minas the nobleman gave to his servants represent.  While minas can be interpreted to represent money, in the context of Jesus stating his purpose of coming to seek and save the lost, a loftier interpretation of these minas is that of representing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We are therefore not only called upon to be good stewards of our finances, but also good stewards of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We must be good stewards of the Gospel by.

1)      Living for Christ (Hebrews 3:1-6, Ephesians 4:1) – When we accept Christ as our Savior, we receive a heavenly calling.  This does not necessarily mean we all become pastors and will lead a church.  It does however mean that we have been entrusted with something valuable, a mina, given to us by the King of Kings, Jesus Christ.  Let us therefore not be like the servant that hid his mina and had the king take it away from him and instead let us be like the other two servants who invested or shared their mina.  However, people are more influenced by how we live our lives than by what we say.  Jesus harshest remarks during his ministry were aimed at religious hypocrisy.  Let us therefore not be hypocritical Christians who profess Jesus as savior but fail to live our life in obedience to his word and instead live lives that match our profession of faith. 

2)      Sharing the Gospel when the opportunity arises (2 Timothy 4:2) – While 2 Timothy 2:1-8 is directed to a young pastor, I believe it is good advice for all of us who have received the mina of the Gospel.  Our world us full of many who may have never heard the message of Gospel or who have had someone ram the message down their throats.  However, these individuals have the same struggles and problems we do but without the hope provided by a relationship with Jesus Christ.  As these individuals witness us living for Christ and at peace while enduring the same struggles, they may ask us how we can be at peace, opening a door of opportunity for us to share the Gospel.  The way I do this is to use the Roman Road to salvation.  (1)  You can also direct them to needanswers.com. 

3)      Sharing what Jesus has done in our lives (Acts4:33) – While sharing scripture on how to know Jesus as our Savior is important, sharing with others how Jesus has helped us endure the same struggles they are enduring has an even greater impact on their lives.  Therefore, do not fear sharing your mina of the Gospel by sharing what Jesus has done in your life.  The Apostles did not have the full canon of scripture at their disposal and yet turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6) by sharing the testimony of their experiences walking with Jesus. 

If you are reading this and have not received your mina of the Gospel by accepting Jesus as your savior, I invite you to do so now by praying with me,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

Whether you have just received your mina of the Gospel, or have possessed your mina for many years, do not hide it but invest it by living for Christ, sharing the Gospel when the opportunity arises, and sharing with others how Jesus has helped you live in peace while enduring the same struggles that leave those without Christ hopeless. 

1. Teen Missions International. The Roman Road to Salvation. www.teenmissions.org. [Online] [Cited: October 30, 2016.] https://www.teenmissions.org/resources/roman-road-to-salvation/.