God's Divine Love

God, with our best interest in mind, sent His own Son, Jesus Christ (Jho. 3:16), in the flesh (Jho. 1:14) to present Himself to man in a perfect presentation (1 Pet. 1:19); to lay before humanity a perfect example of submissive living (1 Pet. 2:21); and to be the Lamb of God (Jho. 1:29); the perfect propitiation for the wrath of an offended God (Rom. 3:24-25).

Out of genuine love, He laid before mankind, a perfect plan of redemption (1 Tim. 1:11; Rom. 1:16-17); that if any man (Mark 8:34) would freely deny himself and putting his hand to the plough without looking back (Luke 9:68); make a good confession of their conviction towards Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God (Mat. 10:32); that they could now stand before God and their fellowman, having the power to become the sons of God (Jho. 1:12), enveloping themselves in Christ through water baptism (Gal. 3:27).

Paper Work Reduction Act

In 1995 Congress decided that something needed to be done about the mountains of paper work that was involved in publishing laws, purchasing homes, applying for credit, and any number of other “legal” procedures. Consequently the “Paper Work Reduction Act” was passed that year, and according to the governments own website, the purpose of the act was designed, among other things, to “minimize the paperwork burden for individuals, small businesses, educational and nonprofit institutions, Federal contractors, State, local and tribal governments, and other persons resulting from the collection of information by or for the Federal Government” (http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/laws/paperwork-reduction/3501.html). Although the government expected a 30% reduction in paperwork overall, between 1995 and 1999 the actual amount of paper work increased by approximately 233 million burden hours. If we consider one person working 40 hours a week, it would take him more than 5 million years to take care of the extra paper work as a result of the “Paper Work Reduction Act.” I can personally attest to the failure of the Paper Work Reduction Acts, at least so far as the impact it has had on individuals. My wife and I just closed on a house here in Fort Worth, and the stack of paper work we had to sign was approximately 2” thick, and it took us more than an hour and a half just to “sign on the dotted line” (actually several dozen “dotted lines”). The attempt by the government to “reduce” paperwork, resulted in a massive proliferation of paperwork, precisely the opposite of what the Act was intended to accomplish.

The last six decades have witnessed a rapid departure from the spiritual roots of this country. Slow at first, and more accelerated with each passing year, we are now witnessing a complete casting off of all restraints. The social consequences are evident to any and all who read the daily newspaper, or log on to the internet and observe news items at your favorite website. In the last 100 years we have seen the legalization of drinking, the sale of alcohol, para-mutual betting, abortion on demand, homosexual rights, the lottery, casino halls, houses of ill repute, etc. Now politicians clamor for legalization of drugs, homosexuals in the military, homosexual marriages, and the "Freedom of Choice Act" (making it completely legal to kill children still in the womb, even up and including the point of birth). Laws passed by Congress have no effect; in fact laws passed by humanists in an effort to address moral problems created by humanists will have no better impact upon the moral ills of this country than the Paper Work Reduction Act had in eliminating excessive paper work; in fact, the result will be much worse.

In less than two years this nation’s electorate will be entering voting booths all across this country. I wonder if we have learned our lesson yet! Will we be wise enough to discern the ungodly fruit the present leadership of this country has borne (from the local politicians all the way up to the White House and halls of Congress)? Will we cast our votes based on what we can get from government in the form of more and better entitlements? Will we concentrate on what our favorite politician can give us? Or will we seek divine wisdom that is from above, and seek out leaders who will respect God’s word in the leadership they offer our failing and faltering nation? We might laugh at the results of the Paper Work Reduction Act, but I can assure you that who we choose to fill positions of leadership in political circles year after next is no laughing matter!

Tom Wacaster

Memorial Day 2011

Memorial Day is a time to take stock of the present, reflect on the past, and renew our commitment to the future of America. Today, as in the past, there are problems that must be solved and challenges that must be met. We can tackle them with our full strength and creativity only because we are free. We owe this freedom to our Creator and to those men and women in uniform who have served this nation in time of need. In particular, we are forever indebted to those who have given their lives that we might be free. I don't have to tell you how fragile this precious gift of freedom is. Every time we hear, watch, or read the news, we are reminded that liberty is a rare commodity in this world. (Notes from Ronald Regan)

This Memorial Day, we honor those brave Americans who died in the service of their country. "Their bodies are buried in peace; but their names live for evermore.'' Scripture, when speaking for the faithful, says, what could be written upon the epitaph of every dead soldier: "Of whom the world was not worthy" (Heb. 12:38). As a tribute to their sacrifice, let us renew our resolve to remain strong enough to deter aggression, wise enough to preserve and protect our freedom, and thoughtful enough to promote lasting peace throughout the world.

May I humbly offer these fundamental items that we as Americans need to remember today:

• We have a strong national identity: We are a Christian nation!
• We need to maintain a strong national security: God's providential care!
• We possess a strong national ethic: God's Holy Writ
• We must maintain strong national heroes: George Washington/Seal Team 6
• We must maintain strong national villains: Hitler/Osama Bin Laden
• We need to maintain strong national memorials: Today is about remembering!

So I want to thank you for this important remembrance. With gratitude and respect, we remember their sacrifice. As Jesus Himself said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).

May God Bless You... And God Bless America!

These are my notes from the Purdy Cemetery Memorial Service for our fallen heroes (May 30. 2011).

Out of the Ruins -5

"I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it
as in the days of old:" (Amos. 9:11)

America needs to be reminded of it’s strong national ethic. By definition, ethics is “the study and evaluation of human conduct in the light of moral principles.” The genius of the framers of the American Constitution, lies in how they answered an important moral dilemma regarding democracy’s natural decline: You see, in their minds; neither the governed, nor the government was the source of all law. The theory of the Constitution may be contained in the Federalist Papers, but the moral authority which backs up this theory is righteousness (Pro. 14:34).

"The chief glory of nations is not to be found in the shrewdness of their diplomacy, the wisdom of their international policy, the ruthlessness of their warfare, the splendor of their conquest, the extent of their empire, or in the inexhaustibility of their resources. These may cause nations to be known and feared, but it is righteousness that makes nations secure and causes them to be respected and honored. Apart from righteousness, there is no genuine exaltation for any individual or nation." (B.C. Goodpasture, 1965)

Out of the ruins of America, God can rebuild this great nation.

Out of the Ruins of America -4

“I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers, and it was not there. I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her fertile fields and boundless forests, and it was not there. I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her rich mines and her vast world commerce, and it was not there. I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her public school system and her institutions of learning, and it was not there. I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her democratic congress and her matchless constitution, and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great." (Alex de Tocqueville).

Our National Identity is expressed in our motto: “In God we Trust” (cf. Psa. 33:12; 16:1). “Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are of God?” (Jefferson).

Out of the ruins of America, God can rebuild this great nation.