SOMETHING ALL POLITICIANS SHOULD REMEMBER

BY CHARLES WOODRUFF

In the news today we received word that 78 year old Republican Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania was defecting immediately to the Democrats. This will put the dems only one senator away from having so-called filibuster proof power in the U.S. Congress. It is one senator away, but even that is all but settled

“The switch dramatically alters the political terrain for Obama as his second hundred days in office begins - and as his allies in Congress try to turn his campaign promises into legislative realities. With the increasing likelihood that Minnesota's Al Franken will be seated in the Senate after his contested election last fall against incumbent Republican Norm Coleman, the Democrats will reach the all-important 60-vote threshold that could allow them to override any Republican filibuster, at least in theory.” (Time Magazine from Yahoo.com; April 28, 2009).

Everyone knew that Specter usually took liberal positions, so now President Bush not backing Specter’s conservative GOP primary opponent in 2004, because of fear of losing Republican congressional control (if he didn't back the longtime Pennsylvania senator), is seen as an even more questionable move (The Republicans lost anyway!) The following article I wrote after the 2006 congressional elections still fits pretty well today.

In the present Congress session of the USA, there is much talk about leadership and change. There is a lot of bragging going on about who is now in charge. I have lived long enough to see all this before. People in leadership get drunk with power as if the only reason they got in that position was their own effort, and they seem to feel, now that they have this power, they will keep it forever. Congressional leaders, senators, bureaucrats and even presidents, prime ministers, kings and queens, popes, archbishops and all manner of preachers and religious leaders should read this scripture: “He changeth the times and the seasons: He removeth kings and setteth up kings: He giveth wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding” (Daniel 2:21). And as God told Pharaoh: “And in very deed for this cause I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power: and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth” (Exodus 9:16).

At best, the position of power in both houses of Congress is precarious. In the Senate all it will take is one death, or incapacity, or even one defection of a Democrat to put the Republicans back in power. In the House, the new majority is much larger, but there are House elections for various states every two years, so that power doesn’t necessarily last long either.

In my judgment, the Republicans would still have their power if those who vowed to be conservative had held their ground. Then there is the disappointing corruption among many in both parties. Congressman Foley, as disgusting as he is, was not the only sinner. The difference being the largely biased news media which pounded on the Republicans while largely winking at the sins of the Democrats. But all this is only on the surface. Behind the scenes is God, setting history as He has decreed it. Could it be that the reason He has permitted the largely liberal, antichrist, immoral, anti-American, one world government crowd to prevail in America, is because the land is under the righteous judgment of God? Think about it; how long will the holy God Jehovah allow a country that professes “In God We Trust” and “One Nation Under God” to continue down the slippery slope of ungodliness? So many open sins-like open wounds! Must I name them for you? Ironically, many “heterosexuals” want to live together without marriage. This is not new, but is now a rampant epidemic. This is while “homosexuals” want to get “married” and have their marriages recognized by the states! Of course, the main reason is so they can get insurance benefits and other privileges of marriage. The major TV networks, print media and advertisers in the marketplace are pushing the homosexual agenda, and these sodomites largely control Hollywood, so they also push it big time.

Then there is the abortion industry that continues unchecked in spite of 12 years of “conservatives” in power. Babies are murdered every day. Of what marriages there are, over half end in divorce. The murder rate is sky high. Robberies and violent crime are up. Every outward vestige of Christianity is under attack, yet because of “political correctness”, Muslim teaching is being allowed in many public schools. I don’t even need to talk about the added burden to taxpayers because illegal immigrants can come here and get as many or more government benefits than can a US citizen, all because our politicians won’t enforce the laws we presently have!

The point is, this is a sick nation. A sin-sick nation! If you were God what would you do? I am thankful that neither you nor I are on that High throne of heaven! “How long O Lord”? Remember the sermon I wrote She Hath Done What She Could? What can we do? All we can do, is humble ourselves, pray, and cast ourselves on the mercy of a just God. II Chronicles 7:14 can and must be applied!

(Originally published in Morsels and Tidbits From Charles; January 2007)

FROM PAST MORSELS

Enemies of the Christian That Rise Up Against Him
By Charles Woodruff

We know that the world, the flesh and the devil are our enemies. We may have our worst problems with the flesh, though that very flesh may lead us to say “the devil made me do it”. The flesh brings the believer these problems:
1. Indifference= spiritual coldness.
2. Ingratitude= unthankful to God.
3. Inconsistency= unstable in all our ways.
4. Inactivity= not interested in the things of God.
5. Indecency= immorality, sin, rebellion.
The remedy can be found in Psalm 3:3, 4

-If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself (Augustine of Hippo).

-A preacher finished the service one morning by saying, “Next
Sunday, I am going to preach on the subject of liars. As a preparation for
my sermon, I would like you all to read Mark 17.” On the following
Sunday, the preacher rose to begin. Looking out at the congregation he
said, “Last week I asked you all to read Mark 17. If you have read the
chapter, please raise your hand.” Nearly every hand in the congregation
went up. Smiling, the preacher said, “You are the very people I want to
talk to. Mark has only 16 chapters”.

A Thought For the Computer Age

We all live on the thin interface between radioactive molten rock and a
hard, cold vacuum--and we worry about what?

JOYFUL SAINTS

SCRIPTURE MEDITATIONS By W. F. Bell
Psalm 37:1-4; Psalm 104:33-34; I Thessalonians 5:16

"Delight yourself also in the Lord" (Psalm 37:4). "And He brought forth His people with joy, and His chosen with gladness" (Psalm 105:43). We live in a world of awful sin and much bad news. But beloved, we must not dwell upon it, for Scripture commands us, "Fret not yourself because of evil doers" (Psalm 37:1). Those who are "delighting" themselves in the Lord Jesus Christ truly feed on better things than the sad events and bad news of this world. God-fearing people don't find cause for joy in any cesspool of iniquity, or in any of mankind's bad news (and we don't understand those who want to feed on it every single day).

Isn't it rare to meet a truly joyful person? (What about you and I?) The ills of society have rubbed us all the wrong way, and it is easy to complain and be bitter about our circumstances. But, let us "look again" at the wonderful Word of God, meditating in these glorious truths: "I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of Him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord" (Psalm 104:33-34). How's that for true, holy, positive thinking? "I will sing." "Unto the Lord." "My meditation of Him." "Shall be sweet." "I will be glad." In who? Yes, "In the Lord." Meditating on Christ is not "sour," but "sweet." It does not make us "sad," but "glad." Seeing King Jesus "by faith" is the greatest sight a sinner can have in this mortal life (John 20:20, 29). Have we truly seen "the glory of Christ" in the gospel?

Charles Spurgeon comments on Psalm 104: "We never sing so well as when we know that we have an interest in the good things of which we sing, and a relationship to the God whom we praise....Meditation is the soul of religion. It is the tree of life in the midst of the garden of piety, and very refreshing is its fruit to the soul which feeds thereon." Beloved, have we lost our song? Even in our night of sin, God will give us "songs in the night" (Job 35:10; Psalm 42:8). Christ Jesus Himself, even though "a Man of Sorrows" (Isaiah 53:3), once "rejoiced in spirit" (Luke 10:21), praising His Father's sovereign good pleasure, stating "All things are delivered to me of my Father" (Luke 10:22). We too rejoice in the sovereignty of God, even when we do not understand His mysterious providences, His holy chastisements, or the numerous sins of wicked men.

Let us return to singing! Let us return to holy meditation! Let us return to rejoicing in this great truth: "The glory of the Lord shall endure forever: the Lord shall rejoice in His works" (Psalm 104:31). Let us return to clapping and shouting: "O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph" (Psalm 47:1). Why? This is what makes us whole, healthy Christians! "For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding" (Psalm 47:7).

Our God is the Most High! Our God rules and reigns! "He is a great King over all the earth. He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet" (Psalm 47:2-3). Does this not bring us true joy? "Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name" (Psalm 103:1). "Glory ye in His holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord" (Psalm 105:3). "Rejoice evermore" (I Thessalonians 5:16). Yes, despite a world of sin, let us not become bitter, but better -- better at praising our Lord Jesus Christ, and better at remembering that a day is coming when "sinners shall be consumed out of the earth" (Psalm 104:35), and "the trail of the serpent is cleansed from the globe."

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

"The greatest happiness of my life is that I am loved by the Lord Jesus and can fellowship with Him every day." Andrew Murray