Aug 18 2010

Will the real Conservative please step forward…


I am sick of our current liberal leadership in the U S Congress and the White House. And, I am just about equally as fed up with what is apparently their only possible opposition, the troop of people who want seats in the Congress and the Senate who are “Conservative Lite”.

I have a news alert for Republicans, Tea Party types or not. Blasting President Obama, trying to make much more of the Mosque debate than is rational, and making vague promises that mean nothing except that more hot air has been expelled an’t gonna cut it with the voters.

What Conservative will offer a list of entitlement programs he will work to cut if elected? What programs, (or departments) will you work to do away with? Don’t tell me you are going to cut the “rate of spending” or the spending “rate of growth”, that is not a cut. Don’t bother voters with political-speak, just be honest if possible. You have not cut spending unless the dollars spent last year is more than the dollars spent this year. Cutting the rate of growth in spending is still an increase. Do you think we are stupid?

There are things I like about Newt, Mitt, and Sarah, but give us some meat and potatoes we can believe. I am weary of fluff and noise with no substance. Unless Republicans or Independents can articulate a variety of positive, concrete, changes the American voter can buy into get ready for more of the same!

I’m waiting for a candidate who is more than hot air. Anyone can criticize President Obama and the Congress. It doesn’t take a great political mind to do that. Is there one statesman alive today? I don’t know one. If one person, male or female, straight or gay, will come to the platform and put America and her citizens first, and present an agenda for real change, I’ll support you and vote for you if I’m able. I’ll do everything I can to stop anyone who claims to be conservative and is only a donkey wearing an elephant head.

If anyone knows a potential Conservative Presidential candidate for 2012 who is Reagan-like, let me know. I am not aware of one yet.

I want (I don’t think I’m alone here…) the following:

  • Less government, not slower growth of government.
  • Less entitlement dollars spent, not less growth of spending
  • Stronger Defense
  • Someone who will work to enforce immigration law (someone who will fire anyone in his administration who uses the phrase “comprehensive immigration reform”.
  • A candidate who if elected will actually honor and respect states rights.
  • Someone who believes this country is a Constitutional Republic and governs as if they believe it.
  • A person who will tell the UN to take a hike and run them out of the country. How could they be more useless?
  • Someone who believes in the free enterprize system, who doesn’t believe profit is evil, who will admit in public that Al Gore is a bag of wind, and who has the courage to call our national enemies out by name.

Well, I want more, but this would do for a start. We are in big time trouble!

American citizen,

Royce ogle

Aug 17 2010

Chosen to Suffer?


Yes! It seems clear that Jesus commissioned Saul of Tarsus (Paul) to make Him known and to suffer. This two-fold ministry is outlined in Acts 9. God speaks to Ananias saying:

15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name. (Acts 9:15,16)

God’s plan for Paul from the beginning was that he should carry his name and suffer greatly along the way. And, Paul completely understood this calling.

In his second letter to the Corinthians Paul gives this snapshot of his life.

far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. (2 Corinthians 11:23-27)

This is hardly a description of the life of a minister of the gospel of Christ according to popular teaching today. The common teaching is “God wants you to be happy”, “Your best days are ahead”, and even that you should expect perfect health and have financial success. What hogwash!

For a Christian, suffering is not a bad thing, it is a good thing, provided you are suffering for the cause of Christ. Paul referred to his manifold troubles as “light and momentary” and meaningless compared to the glory that awaits at Christ’s coming.

Peter advised this response to troubles for the cause of Christ.

12Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. ( 1 Peter 12,13)

What about suffering that is not for the cause of Christ? I think we should have the same attitude knowing full well that our God who loves us is for us and in His infinite plan is working everything together for our ultimate good. (Romans 8:28)

In both suffering for Christ and all other suffering we are to be people of faith. We are to unshakingly trust the promises of God while looking for our Saviour from heaven.

Yes, some are chosen to suffer for Christ and the gospel and others are to face other suffering with faith and rejoicing so that a watching world is pointed to Jesus by whose stripes they too can be healed.

Agape’
Royce

Aug 10 2010

Tuesday Night Musings…


By almost any measure I am an old man. By the calendar, the scars, the painful joints, and the odometer, I have been here for a while!
But, I am not done yet!

Things I would like to do, or have, but probably will not.

  1. Own a Honda Gold Wing motorcycle. The Little General vetoes this one.
  2. Own or build a 1937 Ford flat-back sedan street rod. Bank account says “No way Jack!”
  3. Visit Scotland, the home of my ancestry. Maybe…
  4. Get a tattoo. I don’t have an answer! I just like a meaningful, tasteful tat, that’s all.
  5. Catch a bass over 14 lbs. Could January be the magic time?
  6. Live to see my 6 grandchildren grown up. …and be healthy when I get there.
  7. Spend a day on the lake with Hank Parker.
  8. Compete in a NASCAR race. Hey! It’s my list!
  9. Hike the Appalachian Trail with my brother. At least several miles of it.
  10. Have dinner with Newt Gingrich.

Things I should do and can do but probably will not.

  1. Write poetry again.
  2. Write content on GraceDigest.com that is what I enjoy, and less what I think needs to be written.
  3. Write a book. This is a completely selfish pipe dream and I don’t even have a pipe!
  4. Seek out more preaching opportunities. It helps me stay focused on what is most important.
  5. Smile more on purpose even when it doesn’t come easy.
  6. Stay in touch with old friends even when they don’t respond in like kind. I need what they offer, even when it’s difficult to get it from them.
  7. Watch the news on TV less. I have actually been doing much better on this one. It makes me negative and cynical.
  8. Give more attention to focused prayer, especially intercession. When Jesus taught the disciples how to pray He taught them to intercede for others and he taught them to pray together.
  9. Encourage more prayer in the small groups I am a part of.
  10. Become a better man. Trust me, I know where to start.

Things I regret.

Oh sure, I have a list but I’m not telling you! If you really think you need to know ask God, I told him.

I am full of thanksgiving for all the manifest ways God has blessed my life. I completely understand that I don’t deserve one tiny good thing, every good thing is a symbol of God’s grace toward me.

I have nothing legitimate to complain about. My life is full and rich and wonderful. Tomorrow will be another chapter in a love story about a God who loved a sinner and showed it.

Royce

Aug 8 2010

Good News…The War is Over!


A few years ago my wife and I had the pleasure of an extended vacation on the beautiful island of Guam. Guam is the home of Anderson AFB, a large Navy base, and I hear soon, a Marine outpost.

One day we took a day to drive around the island, to meet some native people, sample some native table fare, and see the breath-taking scenery that appears in every direction. As we drove though the countryside, a road side sign caught my attention.

I immediately remembered the story of Shoichi Yokoi, a Japanese soldier who lived for almost 30 years in a cave eating nuts, fruits, rats, snails, etc., and wearing clothing made from tree bark. Mr. Yokoi was imprisoned by his own fears and lack of accurate information. At the end of WWII when the U.S. forces defeated the Japanese and took control of Guam they dropped leaflets saying the hostilities had ended, the Japanese had surrendered, and every Japanese soldier was free to lay down his arms and come out of hiding, the war was over!

Mr. Yokoi believed the leaflets to be American propaganda and was convinced that every Japanese fighting man would live by the Imperial pledge “Never surrender alive”. He was convinced the war was not over, and even if it was he would not surrender. He was discovered by two farmers as he was fishing in the Talofofo River in 1972 and was soon returned to his homeland with a hero’s welcome.

Today as I listened to our preacher talk about the priority of the gospel, (“good news”) I thought of this poor man who had lived in self-imposed slavery because he had not believed the good news when he heard it. I also thought of the tens of millions who have not heard the good news about Jesus and what he has done for them.

As ambassadors of Jesus we are to announce the “good news” far and wide. You see, many people don’t know the war is over. They are not aware that they have been reconciled to God by the death of Jesus. And, most of them don’t understand that they have offended God so that until and unless they believe the good news and appropriate that reconciliation for themselves they stand condemned.

What good news it is to announce that Jesus has set the sinner free! He has borne their sins, died in their place, and offers eternal life and an eternity with Him to all who will believe.

Unfortunately, some will hear the news and refuse to believe it. Some will believe it and receive great blessing by God’s grace. Still others will believe it and yet live in fear that the war is not really over.


For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (Romans 5:10)

19that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
20Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
(2 Corinthians 5:19-21)

Good News…The War is Over !

Agape’
Royce