Proverbs 12:1

Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.

When one excepts the grace offered by Christ, that person will delight in the instructions given by God, and will appreciate the knowledge gained by those instructions, regardless that the lesson was given through trial. Those that stifle their convictions, are like brutes, and miss the whole point.

Matthew 7:12 - The Golden Rule

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

- in other words do onto others as you would have them do unto you.

My Radio Show

This Saturday on the premiere of my internet radio show at BlogTalk Radio I will be discussing "Where the Liberal Left Misses the Whole Point," and the letter I had to write because the local school district believes that they are a better parent than myself and have more of a right to teach my child about "morality" than I do. Driven by our Christian values, my wife and I will discuss everything political. Tune in at 4pm Pacific/7pm Eastern at www.blogtalkradio.com/politicalpistachio - or listen later by accessing the archive.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight

2 Corinthians 5:7

We walk by faith, not by sight.

God is with us. He is everlasting. God is unchanging. Have faith that the God capable of creating the entire universe so easily is capable of handling our difficulties. His will be done.

Job 23:11-12

For I have stayed in God's paths; I have followed his ways and not turned aside. I have not departed from his commands but have treasured his word in my heart. (NLT)

Job was aware of God's omnipresience, but confused by the storms and trials he was enduring. He could get no fixed view of God's merciful presence, nor find comfort by spreading his case before Him. His views had become gloomy. God seemed to watch from a distance, and for all Job knew, was frowning upon him. Yet, during his darkest hour Job expressed his assurance that he should be brought forth, tried, and approved, for he had obeyed the precepts of God. He had relished and delighted in the truths and commandments of God.

Romans 12:10

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another

Love is the greatest of the gifts of God, but our love of our fellow Christians should be sincere, free from deceit and poor intentions. Our new nature brought about by Divine grace must detest and dread all evil, and love and delight in whatever is kind and useful. We must not only do that which is good, but we must cling to it. Our duty towards one another is summed up in one word, love.

Does Evil Exist?

One day a professor of a university decided to defy his pupils. He asked, "Did God create everything that exists?"

A student answered bravely, "Yes, He did."

"Everything?" asked the teacher.

"Yes, everything," was the answer of the student.

"In that case, God also created evil, correct? Because evil exists," said the teacher.

To that, the student had no answer and remained in silence. The teacher was delighted at the opportunity to prove one more time that faith was only a myth.

Suddenly, another student raised his hand and asked, "May I ask you a question, professor?"

"Of course," was the answer.

"Does cold exist?"

"Of course," answered the professor. "Have you never felt cold?"

"Actually, sir, cold does not exist. According to studies in physics cold is the total and complete absence of heat. An object can only be studied if it has, and transmits, energy. And it is the heat of an object that transmits its energy. Without heat, the objects are inert, incapable to react. Cold does not exist. We created the term, cold, to explain the lack of heat."

The student then asked, "And darkness? Does darkness exist?"

"It exists," replied the teacher.

"Again, you're wrong, sir. Darkness is the total absence of light. You can study light and brightness, but not darkness. The Prism of Nichols shows the variety of different colors in which light can be decomposed according to the longitude of the waves. Darkness is the term we created to explain the total absence of light."

And finally, the student asked, "And evil, sir. Does evil exist? God did not create evil. Evil is the absence of God in people's hearts, it is the absence of love, humanity, and faith. Love and faith are like heat and light. They exist. Their absence leads to evil."

Now it was the professor's turn to remain silent. . .

The name of the student was: Albert Einstein.

Philippians 3:13 (King James Version)

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before

James 5:17

Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

Praying lightly throws contempt upon God's name and authority. In the midst of a storm in life nothing is more seasonable than prayer. We are then most humble, and the heart is broken and tender. It is necessary to exercise faith and hope under affliction, and prayer is the appointed means for obtaining and increasing these graces. In a time of turmoil it is not cold and formal prayer that is effectual, but the prayer of faith. The power of prayer is proven by the history of Elijah. In prayer we must not look to the merit of man, but to the grace of God. It is not enough to simply say a prayer. Thoughts ought to be fixed. Our desires need to be firm and ardent. The very power of prayer should encourage every Christian to be earnest in prayer.

Deuteronomy 30:20 NLT

You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life...

Micah 2:1

Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.

Woe to people that plan evil things, carrying out their lives simply to carry their evilness into execution! It is not right to do wrong things on a whim, but it is much worse to do it with design and forethought. When we give in to the world's desires and offerings, covetousness inhabits the heart, and compassion is banished. When the heart falls under the enemy's influence, violence and fraud commonly occupy one's activities. The best defense is to not turn away from God, but to put all into His caring hands. It is the world's desire to cut us off from the congregation of the Lord, or cut us short in the enjoyment of its privileges.