Desire God's Will

Philippians 2:13

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” 

King James Version (KJV)

Somethings have become quite clear to me over the past several months.  The main lesson is this. Personal desires are worthless and should be shunned. The only desire a person should have is to do God's will. Following your heart is possibly the worst thing anyone can do. It leads to pain and general malaise. Don't follow your dreams. Don't follow the wishes of any mortal person. Don't try to please any mortal person just for the sake of gaining favor with them. These are all false premises and lead to a person wasting their life. I've been there. All of these things have become crystal clear to me over the past few months.

Mankind's purpose is to do God's will. Mankind's purpose is to please God. Even if something seems good and isn't specifically against anything in the Bible, if God isn't leading you, purge the desire from your life. The desire will bring nothing but pain. Your prayer should always be to have God lead you to do what pleases Him. If that isn't your prayer, stop wanting what you think is good for you and just continue to serve Him.

I've come to these conclusions after years of learning and seeking. The desires of my own heart have led to nothing but emptiness and waywardness. Only when I am doing God's will and serving other people in His name, have I been able to find freedom from the oppression of my own worthless desires. It is quite clear that I am not worthy of His love, yet the fact that Jesus came to save me shows that His love knows no bounds. Putting aside my desires has allowed me to focus on serving people for His glory. Rather than desiring any earthly outcome, just desire to do God's will. You will be tested, but shrug off the desires that creep in if they conflict with your service of others. To serve yourself, even if not specifically against any rule or commandment set forth in the Bible, will end in emptiness. No good comes from serving yourself. The only good that can come from our mortal lives is to serve as His ambassadors while we live.

Don't be afraid to invite someone to church, but make sure that you are inviting that person for their sake and not your own. Don't be afraid to pass out a Gospel tract for the sake of the other person's soul, not your own glory. Don't be afraid to be of service to someone in need, but only for their sake. Don't do anything that may result in your self being elevated at the expense of anyone else. I'm done caring for what happens to me in the future. As long as I focus on staying in His will, my future will be just fine. I desire God's will, not my own.

James 1:5King James Version (KJV)

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

James 4:8King James Version (KJV)

8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

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Enough!

As many of you may, or may not know, my life has been changed greatly over the last year. Much of this has been due to my church and the people I've met through this church. My friends have had a great effect on me. I see the world as a place to serve others, rather than only myself. I have found joy where none existed before. God is always good. One thing that has greatly increased in me is my sense of the amazing differences God bestowed upon each one of us. No one is the same and there are some differences that God intended us to respect. First and foremost of those is the respect a man should have toward a woman(any woman).

A little background before I go any further. I have never been one to have many female friends. That has changed over the past year. The ladies in my church are great. Several I consider to be good friends. This has changed my perspective, mainly because many of these women are godly and respectful. They honor God and respect the word of God. When you see ladies like this in everyday life, a new respect for women is developed.

I think some blame can be placed for the moral sewer we are in right at the feet of the feminist movement over the past 50 years, downplaying the inherent differences between men and women. Men have gone from cherishing women to competing with them. I don't think this is the way God intended us to live. Before you decry me as a misogynist, I believe, as the civil law says, all people are equal before that law. Also, before you get mad, realize that I am advocating that men honor women and women respect men. Both sides have much to work on because our culture has muddled what it is to be a godly man and a godly woman to the point that this aspect of life is almost unrecognizable. Boys need to be raised to be godly men and girls need to be raised to be godly women, and until we get back there, this will continue. It's taken me over thirty years of life to realize this.

Now, to the meat of my message. I am tired of people who, for many years and decades, have hammered the left(rightly so, I might add) for being anti family and anti Christian and anti morality and now have gone all in for Donald Trump because they are afraid of the bogeywoman Democrat running for president. I know Hillary Clinton is a disaster and she will likely be an enemy of the church. Ask anyone who knows me and they can tell you how much I did to try to prevent the scenario we're facing right now. Nearly 10,000 miles traveled and thousands of doors knocked on will attest to that point too. I've been in this fight for quite some time.

Fast forward to today and people I once respected and looked to for moral guidance have left the Christian movement high and dry. People like Franklin Graham, Dr. James Dobson, and Tony Perkins have flushed their ability to speak to issues of morality and biblical sexuality down the drain. How are we supposed to be able to advocate for marriage being a forever promise between God and our prospective spouse when people the same people who told us that for years are now covering for a man who trades in his wives when they get too old, like a wealthy man does with his cars? Michael Farris, who has been instrumental in the homeschool movement and was a founding member of the "Moral Majority" in the 1980's said this,

 "The premise of the meeting in 1980 was that only candidates that reflected a biblical worldview and good character would gain our support.

Today, a candidate whose worldview is greed and whose god is his appetites (Philippians 3) is being tacitly endorsed by this throng." 

I couldn't agree more with what Mr. Farris said. The Christian right has become what they railed against for so many years.

When people, who have made it their business and their mission to speak up for traditional values, throw their credibility away for political expediency, we know they have bought into what Satan peddles. No one is righteous before God, but we must try to be. Giving in to a disgusting man, like Donald Trump, because of a fear of his opponent shows a stunning lack of faith in God. A phrase my pastor used several months ago keeps coming back. So many people are trying to "put God in a box".

On October 7th, when I first saw the piece about Trump's hot mic comments regarding how he treats women, I told some friends of mine, but I wouldn't even send the article to my female friends. I did send it to their dad and let him know what I thought so that he could inform them, but I wasn't going to subject them to that kind of filth. I couldn't bring myself to do that. Fast forward to just last week and a piece by Nancy French in the Washington Post,

"Republicans who have lamented the Clintonian proclivity to malign women are now defending the same activities because … well, they idolize power or their own strategic cleverness. Trump, like the preacher, is too important to abandon. We have become what we said we despised."

I was in tears by the end of this piece. I want nothing to do with a movement or a party that will excuse one vile and awful person just because the other might be worse. I can't do it. I have screwed up many times in my life and I've paid a price for doing so. Relationships have been harmed. I was on the wrong path. I've found my way back, thanks to God working through so many good people and lots of personal reflection and prayer. I don't want to go back to the path that isn't from God's word.

Shortly after reading that piece, Nancy's husband, David French, released this piece in National Review,

"I distinctly remember the first time I saw a picture of my then-seven-year-old daughter’s face in a gas chamber. It was the evening of September 17, 2015. I had just posted a short item to the Corner calling out notorious Trump ally Ann Coulter for aping the white-nationalist language and rhetoric of the so-called alt-right. Within minutes, the tweets came flooding in. My youngest daughter is African American, adopted from Ethiopia, and in alt-right circles that’s an unforgivable sin. It’s called “race-cucking” or “raising the enemy.”"

David French and his wife, Nancy, adopted a child from Ethiopia. He was a subject of scorn and ridicule for this because a sizable minority of Trump supporters, Trump's cult, if you will, think this is disgusting. We have to push back against this type thinking. Enough is enough.


As I read an email from a friend of mine last night, her work and her words rang true. She is burdened for two young ladies in the community she is staying in who have an abusive and immoral father. She's trying to combat what so many "evangelical" leaders are now excusing as locker room talk. She is reaching out to young women in a different country, trying to help them overcome what society has become. She, through the Holy Spirit working through her, is doing what we all need to do. We need to readjust our focus from a purely political and worldly focus to one of reaching the lost for Christ and then helping them to walk the path laid out for us in the word of God. This friend has reminded me of that calling and I think we all need a reminder, from time to time.

Stop making up excuses for evil! Stop making up excuses for fearing man! Fear God and speak the truth in love! Jesus still saves and God will still be in control on November 9th, just as He is right now.

Some more resources and reading:

"I want to ask the men leading the GOP some questions. Why didn’t you defend women from this raging sexist especially after so many Republican women — for so many years — eagerly defended the party from charges of sexism? You must make us out for fools."

"Only 9% of Americans chose Trump and Clinton as the major party nominees. The one is a repeat donor of the other. Trump endorsed Hillary Clinton over both John McCain and Barack Obama in 2008. He has given to her campaign repeatedly. He defended Bill Clinton in the 90’s against Paula Jones, et al."

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A National Nightmare

The truth is, Trump is just a product of a sick and dying culture. The further we pull away from the roots of faith and family that built this nation, the more depraved and base we become. - Susan Wright for Redstate.com

In one month, our national nightmare will be codified by the vote of people who don't have the best interests of the nation at heart. The 2016 presidential election has been a hot mess(or as a Senator from my home state of Nebraska described, a dumpster fire) for the better part of a year now, but mark October 7th , 2016 as the day the Trump campaign died. I won't post links to the articles that quoted or even showed the video of Donald Trump from 2005 because I have too much respect for my female friends. Suffice it to say, what Trump said 11 years ago is the real Donald Trump. Those wishing he was a better person or could possibly act "presidential" will be waiting until they die or until Jesus comes back, which ever comes first. I pray for the latter daily.

The Trump campaign has forever damaged the ability of the current Republican party to speak to issues that many of us hold dear. I'm a small government type when it comes to political philosphy. The GOP is so far from being a small government party, they are happy being the "we'll die from debt slightly slower than the other guys" party now. In areas of morality, the GOP has also abdicated their place as the party of morals, once and for all.

As someone who led a life away from church and from the truly Christian lifestyle for many years and recently found my way back, I can honestly say that I understand why so many people are eschewing the Church, nationally. When people like Robert Jeffress and Dr. James Dobson make excuses for the behavior of Donald Trump, why choose to be apart of a religion that endorses the same thing as the world endorses?

Christians are called to be separated from the world in our ways. If we are not willing to stand against the national disgrace that is Donald Trump, what will we be willing to stand against? I know Hillary is bad. We've all known that for the better part of 30 years. Why then, did Christians allow someone like Donald Trump to gain the nomination to oppose the wretched woman? It's almost like some of us went from state to state sounding the alarm that a Donald Trump nomination would result in Hillary Clinton being elected president. Oh, wait. Some of us actually did do that.

While a chorus of "I told you so's" is highly warranted, I am now going to choose to drop to my knees and ask God for His mercy. Our nation surely doesn't deserve it, especially since our leaders and wannabe leaders now say marriage is a nebulous concept to be defined by the parties choosing to define it, men aren't men and women aren't women(opposing God's design), and babies aren't babies until some crazy group like Planned Parenthood says they are babies.

Don't try to tell me that "I should think about the cabinet and the Supreme Court" with regard to Trump. He has shown himself to not have the ability to listen to wise counsel. He has surrounded himself with people who are not conservative. His most trusted advisor is his daughter. She is a big government progressive with views more closely aligned with Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama than with the late Antonin Scalia or Senator Mike Lee.

Anyone, and I mean anyone, who has accepted Jesus as He is and believes that He is the way, the truth and the life, must turn from the current major party choices for president. Some will practice situational ethics and say that one(or the other) is better than the other. That is wrong. Both must be soundly rejected. One will win, but the winner must not have a mandate to anything other than sit in the Oval Office.

On a more personal note, I've never had many female friends because of the businesses I worked for in the past were heavily male dominated, but I have become friends with several of the most amazing ladies I've ever met over the past year. If anyone, and I mean anyone, said what Trump has said about women toward one of my friends, my sister or my mom, I'd do a lot more than just wring my hands. I'd do everything I could to make sure that person was called out for the digusting human he was. I surely wouldn't vote for that person. What would you do if someone used language like Trump has used and directed it toward your daughter, your wife, or your sister?

Sara Gonzales, a writer at RedState.com, summed up the current mess like this:

Let’s get one thing straight.  As terrible a person as Bill Clinton is, Bill Clinton is not running for president.  Bill Clinton’s name is not on the ballot anywhere.  If someone wants to have a conversation about Hillary Clinton’s own personal treatment and degradation of women, let’s have the conversation.  That could actually be a fruitful discussion.

But if we are going to fault a woman for simply being married to someone who turned out to be a bad man, we are opening the door to all the judgment the left has been placing on us for years.  We are hypocrites, we are misogynists, we are simply holier-than-thou-jerks.

We cannot in good conscience go around touting the sanctity of marriage and the importance of marriage vows, and then turn around and judge a woman for staying in a marriage, for whatever reason. We cannot assign blame to Hillary Clinton for her husband’s indiscretions.

In fact, criticizing Hillary for staying married to Bill BECAUSE of his treatment of women, is only inadvertently admitting that this kind of behavior towards women is wrong.  So bringing it up to minimize Donald Trump’s behavior is even more ridiculous and short-sighted.

Bill Clinton should not even come up when discussing Donald Trump’s behavior.  He’s irrelevant to this conversation.  If something is wrong, it is wrong.  Period.  At least have the courage and moral decency to call it what it is without the excuse that someone else’s spouse is worse.

Finally, if you want to disagree, give me your best shot. Tell me where I'm wrong. Just don't use the Bible or Christian values to make your case, because that would be heresy and I won't put up with it. Please, comment below. 

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A few more links for you to peruse regarding the impending death of the Trump candidacy:

In 1999, Trump Said He Couldn’t Be President Because of the Women He’d Sleep With

Corey Lewandoski On Trump’s Lewd Comments: ‘We’re Not Choosing a Sunday School Teacher Here’

It Gets Worse: In 1993, Trump Allegedly Forced Himself On A Young Woman In IVANKA’S ROOM

BREAKING: Hugh Hewitt Calls On Trump To Step Aside

New Pence statement on Trump’s remarks: I ‘cannot defend them.’

Report: Mike Pence will also not be attending campaign event in Wisconsin with Paul Ryan

CNN host claims Trump popped a Tic-Tac and tried to kiss her friend

An Eye Opening Week

I spent last week with my friends at a family camp that they, along with another family, host. I had fun being with my friends and meeting many new people. If you know me, you know I like meeting new people. This camp was mainly focused on homeschool families who teach their kids biblical principles, along with their reading, writing and arithmetic. Most of the kids were bright and easy to talk to. After my morning session teaching a little history and current day politics, I was encouraged by the conversations about American government I had with many of the younger men in attendance.

Here's where I break with many of the families in attendance. Many of the families were in home churches or family centered church settings. Some others were in Mennonite Churches. The main thing I heard from many of the people I talked to was a lack of enthusiasm for their church lives back at home. Some had fallen into the trap that the church must only revolve around the family and reaching out to others would somehow taint their ability to raise their kids in the way they wanted to. Some just found church to be a place to learn about the Bible. Learning is good, but I have found I need a soul convicting message from time to time to stay focused on what it is that I, as a Christian, am supposed to do. I was raised in a dying church and from my conversations with many of these families, they are in dying or dried up churches too. It breaks my heart.

A church should be focused on the Great Commission, set forth by Jesus Christ when he reappeared to the disciples after His Resurrection.

Matthew 28:18-20King James Version (KJV)

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. If your church isn't centered around this, you need to find out why. If your church isn't centered around reaching the lost amongst us, why does it exist? If your church is just a place for people to go to feel better about themselves, why go?

There are many Sundays or Wednesdays when I can be found weeping at the altar in my church because I am on my knees before a Holy God asking his forgiveness for my sins and my shortcomings. I was never asked to do this in any other church setting I'd ever attended until I was invited to Marion Avenue Baptist Church. I know I'm nothing with out Christ. I know that I must be broken before I can be of any use to God.

So many times, people get wrapped up in what makes them feel good. I know I did. I took the path of least resistance for so long. I was wallowing in my own iniquity and sin. Until I came to the realization that spiritual growth can't occur until spiritual baggage is let go of, I was unable to grow.

My burden is for this to be made clear, to all who are lost and even all who've been saved but then after their decision to trust Jesus were not discipled and led to grow in their faith, that there is more than just the 4 walls of your house/church. We need to be taking the light of the Gospel to all corners. We can't be afraid to hand out a Bible tract to those we meet. We can't be afraid to tell others. In living for others, we can see God bless our own lives more than we could ever see if we turn inward.

Many of the people I talked to didn't even have actual pastors who were tasked with preaching the Gospel in their churches. Some were in glorified Bible study classes. Learning and memorizing the Bible is great and to be commended. Doing that without applying the principles inside is rather useless. Having a called pastor is a must. That pastor must preach the Gospel and lead people in how to apply God's principles to their daily living. Anything less is dead religion.

People, especially children, need to know the reasons for why they are told to behave in a certain way. If you offer nothing more than, "because I said so" or "Do as I say, not as I do", you'll have children that fall away from God and eschew the Church. I know this happened to me. I was lost and backslidden(that's a Baptist term) for years. I didn't even see it. It has taken me nearly a year to figure out that I need to forgive many people and repent of my own sins to be able to move forward with a joy filled life.

I urge everyone who reads this to find a Bible preaching church where the pastor will challenge you. You should be uncomfortable from time to time. When church becomes comfortable, it starts dying. When you do find a church like I've described, get involved. Help take the saving knowledge of the Gospel to a lost and dying world.

Romans 10:8-17King James Version (KJV)

8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Separate Yourself

Today, as I sat in church, the gravity of our place in history hit me right between the eyes.

Never before has the United States of America faced such a dim and horrible choice as what sits before us in this election season. That is why I'm here to offer a word of hope. Before you deride me, know this; I believe Christians should be involved in government and should actively seek office at all levels of government.

This is where my message of hope comes in. As it currently stands, there are no candidates for president worthy of a Bible believing Christian's vote. I believe a vote is an endorsement of what a candidate brings to the table. We are left with wicked and vile candidates. Christians should choose None of the Above. Instead, Christians must start living everyday for Jesus, just like it might be our last day on earth and what we did that day would have a lasting effect on who made it to heaven, because it just might.

Be understanding to the person waiting on you in the store or at a restaurant. They might just need someone to offer a word of encouragement. Be patient with those around you. Offer a helping hand. Pray unceasingly.

In the way of activism, I believe we must never stop speaking publicly to the truths put forward in the Bible. When worldly and godless people deride you, step up your speaking, don't back down. When civil government threatens to push back the teachings of the word of God, be prepared to offer up a message of love(not squishy, emotional love, but love of truth in Jesus). Don't be afraid of what may be said about you. Be consistent in your message. Don't be worried that you may offend someone. That person who takes offense to your words is likely the person who needs to hear the message the most.

Too many times, as Christians, we've decided that being kind is being what ever the world wants us to be so as to not offend anyone. We must stop this way of thinking. Being kind involves being firm in our reliance on God's plan even when it runs contrary to what the prevailing culture says is the way to go.

What I'm trying to get across is our need to take the message of Jesus to the world while living in a way that isn't of the world. We must be separated from the culture of vileness and wickedness. We must be willing to walk the narrow path even when we are told we aren't cool or hip. Just because some people have decided to replace God with anger, pride or envy, we must resist the temptation to do so. Be firm in your reliance on God.

Finally, pray for our nation.

The Convention

The Republican National Convention starts in 3 weeks. I have several friends(more like 80-100) attending. Some are very close to me, like my Pastor, who happens to be an alternate for the Iowa delegation(He has me to thank for that. We'll see when he gets back how he feels about my push to have him on our slate of delegates and alternates). 10 members of the Iowa delegation are people I can call at any time and for nearly any reason. The purpose of this post is not to attempt to sway any Trumpcult members into supporting a sane and rational candidate. I've done that and I will continue to do more of that in the future.
The purpose of this post is to call for fervent and serious prayer for this convention. The likelihood of serious violence, from both paid leftist protesters and Trump's own band of not-so-merry thugs is highly likely and even though security for this will be unprecedented, the possibility of people getting hurt and property being damaged is quite high.
We need to pray for the delegates, that they may have wisdom and courage to stand for what is right, not just what is politically expedient. We need to pray that the delegates don't let people who don't have godly interests in mind sway them from voting for a candidate who lines up with their values and the party platform. We need to pray for the safety of the general public in Cleveland.
We need pray for the police and uniformed security staff, that they may be wise in dealing with any uprisings and do so with justice in mind.
We need to pray for Donald Trump's soul. The man is lost. He is so wrapped up in himself that he can't see what harm he does to others as long as he sees personal gain. He needs to be convicted in the Lord and he needs to realize that he is a sinner, just as broken as any other sinner.
We need to pray that if the delegates should choose to nominate and select someone other than Donald, that that person would be open to the wisdom of the Lord. No single mortal man can make our nation great again, only Jesus can do that.
Lastly, we need to pray that God would raise up a servant to help guide our nation, not to rule over her or institute all manners of wicked and evil policies(like our current president).
In my own life, I can attest to the power of prayer. I've learned so much from my Pastor and my friends about praying for every little and big detail. You can feel God moving when you open yourself to His will. If the people of America would start their day, everyday, on their knees asking God to forgive them, guide them, and provide for them, we wouldn't be in the mess we are in now. I know that 2 Chronicles 7:14 gets thrown around quite often, but between that and the lessons from Jesus on how we should approach prayer, I think we could see a true revival in our nation, if only we'd get ourselves out of God's way and choose to follow His lead.

Evil in the World

It is quite clear that we are living in a time where evil is becoming more personal. No longer are our battles fought across an ocean or around the world. Our battles are now being fought at home.

An American citizen of Southwest Asian descent with ties to ISIS, killed 49 people in the early morning hours today. The FBI knew of this terrorist from previous intelligence obtained through standard anti terrorism means. Political correctness killed a most politically correct group of people.

Today, a clash of progressive leftist causes occurred. The progressives have been radical Islamic apologists, all while promoting homosexuality. The two ideologies are as different as oil and water. In many theocratic Islamic states, like Iran, members of the LGBT community are regularly killed for being a part of a homosexual relationship. At the same time, progressives seek to absolve Islam of its global roll in perpetuating violence against non Muslims.

If the tolerance police seek to shut down Christians, who happen to disagree with this homosexual lifestyle, all while making excuses for Islamists engaging in terrorism, they have effectively pitted love against hate and they are on the side of hate.

True Bible believing Christians do not hate people who engage in sinful lifestyles because we are all sinners, but we do recognize that unrepentant sin separates us from God. We wish no one to be condemned for their sin, but we seek to bring them to Jesus Christ and a life of salvation through grace by faith in a resurrected Lord.

On the contrary, when a Muslim says that he disagrees with homosexuality and he believes the Koran, he then thinks that it's OK to kill homosexuals for doing what they are doing. The contrast couldn't be more stark. A Christian wants to bring the person separated from God to the knowledge of Jesus so they can live a life of victory in the Lord. An Islamist seeks to kill what displeases Allah. We hate sin but are called to love the sinner. Muslims hate the sinner and seek to kill the sinner for non obedience to Koranic law.

While I don't agree with the lifestyles of the people killed in Orlando, I choose to pray for their families. I also pray for the victims still in the hospital. There is no reason that any man or woman can't choose to turn away from sin. Any one of the people engaged in the lifestyle can call upon God to save them through faith in Jesus, repent and live a chaste life.

Islam, on the other hand, is a cult. I'm done playing around with this radical ideology. Islam is a political and social construct to keep people in a daze. If you follow the tenants of Islam, you are agreeing with the cult and all of its evil. I recognize there are nonviolent Muslims. If they truly thought they were the correct portion of their faith, there would have been a reformation event where they break away from the centuries old ideologies like stoning women, cutting off hands and throwing homosexuals off of buildings. That hasn't happened. The problem is Islam.

I recognize there are other evils in the world but there are over 1.5 billion Muslims. This issue must be dealt with. It is clear that war only changes things for a temporary amount of time. This isn't to discount the fact that groups like ISIS need to be dealt with justly in the near term but we must find a long term solution. I truly believe that a relationship with Jesus is the only thing that will solve the evil and hate in much of the Muslim world. True Bible believing Christians know that sin is wrong but we also know that love is the only way sin is conquered. I'm not speaking of the "feeling" kind of love. I'm referring to the love of Christ. Christian love is conscious decision to love some one and sacrifice for that person. Jesus sacrificed for all of us. He was the ultimate sacrifice. We need to tell people about Him. There is no substitute for the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. 

Matt Wells, Ex-Republican

My experiences over the last 9 months of this campaign season have been well documented on this blog. I've been all over the country and especially, Southeast Iowa representing principles I found in a candidate running for President of the United States. Many voters agreed but a large plurality didn't and Donald Trump is the presumed nominee for the Republican Party in this fall's election. This is my party getting off point. I attended my final Republican Central Committee meeting on Monday. After I was told by nearly everyone in the room to put aside my principles and "get on board the Trump train", I'd had enough. I requested time and was granted it. I spoke up. I told them that I could, in no uncertain words, support Donald Trump or give credence to his supporters. I explained how I'd seen so much all over the country. Here is what I posted to Facebook after coming home.

"Tonight, I attended my final Johnson County, Iowa Republican Central Committee meeting. I can no longer be associated with a group tasked with electing Donald Trump. 

I spoke before the committee telling them of my convictions and concerns. I didn't hold back. I didn't parse words. I referred to my faith and the fact that Donald Trump was unrepentant and in using Christianity as a tool for his gain, was a blasphemous man.
After the meeting, I was besieged by half of the group and yelled at and one little old lady, my guess is she is around 80, screamed at me, "What makes you so holy?!" She continued, "I've been a Methodist for 53 years and I know I'm a good Christian!"
I replied, "I'm a dirty sinner saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. If you died today, do you know where you'd go? Would you go to heaven?" 
She was dumbfounded. Nobody in her church had ever asked her to take Jesus Christ at His word."

This post has become the most interacted with post I've ever done on Facebook. I was thinking it wouldn't matter but to just a few local Iowans. I was wrong. It's been shared all over the country in the circles I happen to have a bit of influence in.

The evening disturbed me, for their sake, but it also helped me grow. All but a few people at that meeting were hostile to my remarks. Many are just Republicans because they've always been Republicans. Their hatred for Democrats has impaired their abilities to hold anyone with an R behind their name accountable. It is quite apparent that change in the party will not come from within, but from people leaving and taking their principles with them. 

This is really the crux of the issue. The false religion people have bought into has become my greatest pain. This final meeting as a member of the party turned my attentions completely toward more eternal goals. My involvement in politics will be limited to very special candidates worthy of extreme efforts and worthy of asking my friends to get on board. Sure, I'll continue to vote, but our nation's ills won't be cured until our nation get's on the side of Jesus. Our continued slide toward complete debauchery and moral relativism has led us to accept anything from anyone who has the ability to grab headlines, regardless of their wickedness or depravity.  

If someone were to ask me to describe myself with adjectives, I would say this; I am Born Again Christian American Conservative...full stop. Notice, there were no party identifiers. Unless the delegates to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland choose to form a barrier, to be a remnant, if you will, and deny Donald Trump the nomination next month, my divorce from the party will be permanent and complete. 

If you agree or disagree, comment below.

You can find me on Twitter here.

On a final, more personal note, I ask you to join me in praying for my friends, the Bontrager family, as they get ready to leave tonight on a seven week music mission tour of the Northeast US and eastern Canadian Provinces. I have seen them touch so many lives(mine included) that while I'm disappointed they are leaving Iowa and I won't be able to sit amongst them in church and adult bible fellowship, I know they are doing God's work and helping people to know Jesus in a more personal way.

Below, you'll find my email sent to the secretary of the Johnson County Central Committee. 

Johnson County Central Committee members,

I can no longer, in good conscience, be a member of the Republican party. I resign my position immediately on Johnson County Central Committee. The hatred and vile attitude of Trump are sweeping the party nationwide. I cannot be apart of anything associated with Donald Trump. My faith informs me to eschew wickedness and choose good. Donald Trump's bigoted comments about an American citizen this week, who happens to also be a federal judge adjudicating his fraud case, are just more evidence that he is manifestly unqualified for the highest office in the land. I will actively work against Donald Trump this fall. I also will advise people to not vote for Hillary Clinton. I hope this presidential election has the lowest turnout in modern history. The Republican party deserves to feel the brunt of this. They are partially to blame for the rise of a populist nationalist movement behind Trump. Make no mistake, this is a progressive movement, with elements of fascism seeping in. They've stopped advocating for conservative policies and principles. I will vote for only bonafide conservatives with a record to back their claims. No more campaign conservatives. I look forward to opposing anyone associated with Governor Branstad in the next gubernatorial election here in Iowa in addition to working against Donald Trump. Our politicians must be held to higher standards than they currently are.
You will likely see me outside of the GOP and Democrat offices this fall telling people about their choices and why they should turn away from both this November. A gospel tract will likely be my literature.
The reasons I am set so strongly in my principles are Biblical in nature.

Daniel 9:14   Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.

Proverbs 29:2   When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. 

Ezekiel 18:24   But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die. 

Luckily, Jesus delivered those that call upon his name.

 John 3:15   That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 

  John 3:16   For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

  John 3:17   For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 

  John 3:18   He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 

  John 3:19   And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 

  John 3:20   For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 

  John 3:21   But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. 

  John 3:22   After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. 

  John 3:23   And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. 

  John 3:24   For John was not yet cast into prison. 

  John 3:25   Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. 

  John 3:26   And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. 

  John 3:27   John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. 

  John 3:28   Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. 

  John 3:29   He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. 

  John 3:30   He must increase, but I must decrease. 

  

Romans 8:1   There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 

  Romans 8:2   For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 

  Romans 8:3   For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 

  Romans 8:4   That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 

  Romans 8:5   For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 

  Romans 8:6   For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 

  Romans 8:7   Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 

  Romans 8:8   So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 

  Romans 8:9   But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 

  Romans 8:10   And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spiritis life because of righteousness. 

  Romans 8:11   But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 

  Romans 8:12   Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 

  Romans 8:13   For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 

My efforts will be focused on eternal truths and not the ways of the world any longer. This is why neither Hillary or Trump are worthy of the vote of any born again Christian.

Thank you and God bless,

Matt Wells

bigredmatt1011.blogspot.com

What do you believe?

This post is meant to challenge you to examine what you believe, in a political sense.

A Survey of Beliefs

Question 1: Do you believe that we are endowed with certain unalienable rights, among which are the rights of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness? 

Follow up: Where do those rights come from? 

Question 2: What should the role of government in your life be?

Follow up: What role does government play in your life now?

Question 3: What economic system best suits you?

Follow up: What economic system do we live under now?

Question 4: What about our country do you appreciate?

Follow up: What don't you appreciate?

Question 5: Do you attend religious services regularly?

Follow up: Explain why you answered the way you did?

Question 6: Do you believe that the Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the land?

Follow up: Explain? Should the Constitution be the supreme law of the land?

Question 7: Should an Article 5 Convention of the States be called to propose new Amendments to reign in the federal leviathan?

Follow up: Do you know what an Article 5 Convention is?

Question 8: Do you support federal congressional term limits?

Follow up: Explain your answer.

Final Question: Why do you believe what you believe?

Print these out and answer them or copy and paste them into a document, answer them and send them to the email address linked at the end of this blog post. You will find my answers to the above questions below.

 My Answers

1. I believe that our rights are not derived from any statute or from any other man made decree but come from God, who created us, our Creator, and as those rights are derived from the benevolence of a Supreme Being, they can no longer be taken away by man than can the air we breathe. When man acts to limit our God given rights, we are being subjected to the will of man and that is an affront to a Holy God. Civil government is ordained in the bible but it must not serve to limit God or His wishes for His people. Once government becomes oppressive of our natural rights, we must act to throw off such government. 

2. Government's current role is vast and sweeping, and as such, it forms a statist system that seeks to substitute its will for the consent of the governed. Many people are seeking a ruler to vanquish their perceived iniquities. Many want government to solve their problems. It can never do that because government is just a group of people and when we give that group of people the power to solve our problems, the inherent nature of the people comes to the forefront and government grows out of being a useful servant and becomes the master. Government's role should be to provide for our defense against enemies foreign and domestic. Execute the laws as outlined by the Constitution. Wage war against our enemies and negotiate the peace once we win. That's about it.

3. The economic system that suits me best is a free market system where people are free to buy and sell what they wish, with a small network of regulations(decided at the local and state level) and the only thing the federal government should do is keep states from imposing tariffs on one another. Our current system is a quasi Marxist system where the government, through regulation and force, imposes the will of a few moneyed donors and lobbyists on the rest of the country. There should be no federal regulatory state. I don't even think that most state regulations need to exist. If I want to buy my milk from my friends who happen to own a dairy before that milk is sent to a factory to be processed, why should the government care. I would be buying the milk with the foreknowledge that the milk had not been processed. It should be none of the government's business. No subsidies for any good or service should be provided. All businesses should pay one level tax rate and the only break should be a deduction for capital investment.

4. I appreciate our religious liberty, our freedom of speech, assembly, press and our ability to address our representatives for a redress of our grievances. I appreciate that I, as a Christian, am free to preach the Gospel, if I so choose(or at least I was appreciative of that). I appreciate that our country was founded on an idea that man should be free because our Constitution limited what government could do to usurp our God given rights.

I don't appreciate what we've become. We've become a country of selfish people who think that the government should solve their own pet problems. We've become hostile toward truth. We've become hostile toward our fellow man. We treat government as a charity, all the while forgetting that compelling someone into charity(taxation) is just institutionalized theft. We must give back those responsibilities to groups that actually care about the souls of people, not just their votes every two or four years.

5. This one has made the biggest difference in my life. I attend church services 3 times per week, if I can. I am so blessed to be in a bible believing, bible preaching church. A church shouldn't be a museum of saints, it should be a hospital for sinners. I had moved away from the church because I was repelled at what mainstream American churches had become. Not until I was asked to come to my current church did I reacquaint myself with the value of a body of believers supporting one another and keeping one another accountable to the words and teachings of God through the Bible.

6. I do believe the Constitution of the United States is the Supreme Law of the land and should be used as the measuring stick for all civil and criminal statutes. The Constitution must be the chains that bind the mischief of government. Our courts should heed the words written in our Constitution and subsequent amendments as the basis of all law under their jurisdiction. In order for that to happen, words must mean what words mean or we cease being a nation of laws and we become a nation of men. That is a recipe for tyranny. We see the slide toward tyranny right now. 

7. An Article 5 Convention of States should must be called. There is a movement under way in several states to do just that. We must reign in the federal government. Congress and the Courts have failed in their responsibility to hold the line on budget issues, on Constitutional issues and on issues surrounding the defense of our country. The only way to bind government is to reacquaint them with the citizenry they are supposed to be subordinate to. As such, a Convention of States must be called to propose several amendments, including a balanced budget amendment, a Congressional pay and benefits restructuring amendment, an amendment to limit the number of years spent in Congress(see below), an amendment to pull the Supreme Court back into compliance with the original intent of the founders and an amendment to make the Supreme Court subject to its own term limits(I propose one 20 year term, unless a term would expire during the last year of a lame duck presidency). Even ratifying just a few of these proposed amendments would go a great distance toward binding the hands of government so that they may no longer do mischief against the American people.

8. I think Congressional term limits are the single most important legislative reform that an Article 5 Convention must push through. We CANNOT and MUST NOT(sorry for yelling) allow elected representatives to keep making careers out of being in the House of Representatives or Senate. Our representatives were intended to be of the people, not above the people. Don't get me wrong, I want the best and brightest to run and make up our government, but they must do that with a servant's heart and the knowledge that their time in DC is limited. We currently have Senators in Washington, DC who have been in the Senate for over 30 years!(I don't use exclamation points often, and when I do, I mean it.) This cannot be allowed to continue. My proposal(feel free to send me your own, either by commenting or emailing me) is for term limits of a total of 12 years in both houses of Congress. 6 terms in the House. 2 terms in the Senate or any combination where the total doesn't exceed 12 years as an elected legislator in our nation's government. 12 years is three presidential terms. No more time in Washington is needed. 

To answer the final question, I believe what I believe because I'm a Christian Constitutionalist and I'm an American. My overriding belief is in the virgin birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. I know I couldn't enter heaven without calling on Jesus to save me and to be born again in my belief in His grace. And for all that God has bestowed on me, I am thankful. 

Rather than the trite line that many speeches are closed with, I close with this; God, have mercy on America. We, as a nation and a people, have turned away from your Word and from You. Please, have mercy on Your remnant. Amen.

Email me with longer responses or comment below. Share this post with your friends and use this as a tool for discussion. We need to keep dialogue alive. 

Find me on Twitter.

Last Night

I'm not writing about the deal made between the Cruz Campaign and the Kasich people. That will be rehashed in the media for the coming weeks. Plenty will be said.

I am writing about what happened at my church on Sunday, May 24th during our evening service. I was changed. I thought I had been moved closer to God but I was broken last night. Instead of a sermon by our Pastor, the message was just people giving testimonies. I lost it. I realized that I had not been doing enough toward what God wants me to do.

I have never felt so broken but I also know that there is a path forward. I need to listen for that still small voice, as Pastor Brown always refers to. I need to put aside my own needs. I've always lived for me. It has been an empty and awful existence. I no longer will do that. I need to find away that I can be of service to others and make ends meet. I need to be able to tell people about Jesus. I trust that He'll provide a way.

A conversation I had over email with a friend has changed my outlook. This friend said this: "Keep pressing on. Don't forget to put on the armor of God every day (Eph. 6). And remember, it is not about being strong. God wants to be strong through us when we are weak. And if you don't feel equipped for what He is calling you to do, "He doesn't call the equipped, He equips the call."...One more thing- we serve a Savior who loves us at our worst. He breaks us to re make us- a more whole vessel than before." This is the second time that this same person has given me advice that has changed my life and I thank them for it. I don't want to call attention to this person but I think they'll know who I'm talking about. Thank you.

Last night broke me but with God's help, I'll come out the other side all the better to serve Him and to serve others in His name. I ask that you'll pray for me.

No Politics Today

I was all prepared to go all political today but there are still several months left in this primary season and then the lead up to the convention in mid-July, so I have plenty of time to expound and wax poetic on all things political. The ironic thing is all of the following thoughts are possible because I chose to get involved in the dirty business of politics. The Lord does work in mysterious ways.

I wanted to write today. New job news and many other things are in the works but the best thing is having a purpose greater than my own good. I had lost my way for many years while I just worked and went home and repeated the cycle every day. I had been driven by a job and money before. I no longer want to fall into that trap. While having a good job is great, I had been relying on myself too much.  I had been turning inward rather than turning toward God. I didn't realize how profoundly unhappy I had been until now. I am so glad I'm no longer trapped in a that old cycle.

There is so much more to life. There is a purpose above just a job. There are other people in this world that you can positively impact. Whether it is in deeds or words, there is always something you can do to help someone else. I had lost this purpose until I was led back to it. That there are people in my life that helped lead me back can be attributed to nothing but God's love and grace. I had done nothing to deserve what I've been given and there is no way I can ever pay back the kindness and love I've been shown, All I can do is try my best to live for God and in turn, show others what I've been shown.

So many thing have changed for me. I have lost the want to watch TV. I'd rather read or have a conversation with friends. I haven't had a drink of any sort of alcoholic beverage in almost 5 months. I used to drink to unwind a little. I don't need or want it any more. There is a peace that I have now that was missing before.

I notice things now that I didn't before this journey started. I find people that worry and complain more abrasive than before. Worry, anxiety and complaint are all just avenues to express doubt in God. There are no good reasons for these feelings. Instead, prayer has replaced those feelings in my life. One of my friends told me something a few months ago that has really stuck with me. A benefit of being a child of God is sweet peace in the midst of storms. Every time I find myself with a sliver of doubt or worry creeping in, I think that thought and I know I have no reason to worry.

I find things that didn't have any effect on me before do now affect me. I am pained by people that choose to follow false teachings relating to faith in God. I've been shown the truth. Telling people that they can live better and by doing that, they can experience salvation is nothing but a load of lies. The exact opposite is true. You'll just died a tired and condemned sinner. Before any true change can happen, you must accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. After that, the works will come naturally if you remain rooted in the Bible and have a network of people around you that are on the same path. Jesus said that his yoke is light. He was completely correct. Having a mentor in this incredibly helpful. I have several people that I look to in order to see how a godly man should act. I pray that I can be that person for someone else in the future.

I find myself thinking of others when in a large group. Before, I always thought of how my decisions would affect me. Would I gain success? Now, I think of the effect on others before I make the decision. That doesn't mean that I hold back when speaking the truth. If the effect on others is for them to not like me because I spoke the truth, I'm now OK with that. I'd rather be on the right side with God and offend someone rather than placating them for worldly gain. God willing, the truth that I spoke would convict that other person in the future and help them turn toward God. Living for God is so much more fulfilling than living for yourself, wandering(and maybe wondering too) from one day to the next.

One other thing that really gets to me now that I've had a chance to reevaluate life is mistreatment of women. I never gave that much thought to how a person treated those around them but now that I know so many godly ladies, mistreatment of women really gets to me. I knew politics was going to creep in...what I've seen and heard from people associated with the Trump campaign raises a righteous anger in me. I don't like letting injustices slide. I've seen the comment sections on news articles written about certain friends and those people that would deride someone, especially a lady, for no reason other than their own misguided notions will now elicit a reaction from me. I don't let these things slide. I want to stand in the gap between today's declining culture and my friends who have done nothing but live for God and try to help others. I've seen both sides of all of these cultural battles and I can say, unequivocally, that I know which side I'll stand on from now on. I'm on the side of those working for Jesus.

None of these changes were overnight. I know God has worked and will continue to work in my life as long as I keep my eyes on His face and continue praying for His guidance in all that I do. I know this post won't get the most likes on Facebook or be retweeted multiple times but I needed to let the world know of the transformative ways of a God that loves us, if only we'd believe on His goodness and accept his Grace in the form of the ultimate Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Hold Fast to What is Good

On Wednesday, March 30th, I was sitting in church listening to Joseph Brown give a message based upon a passage in Romans. These two verses hit me like a ton of bricks. 

 Romans 12:9   Let love be without dissimulation(ie: pretense, concealment). Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 

  Romans 12:10   Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 

We must prefer those that are on the same path. Once we accept Jesus, we need to stop lowering ourselves to the level of the world and those that would see us separated from our walk with God. I fell victim to thinking that I was OK being friends with people that didn't share my beliefs for many years and it cost me so much that I am still trying to recover. 

This isn't to say that we must stop trying to reach out to those that aren't walking with Jesus. The exact opposite is true. We must be continually working to bring people into the flock of believers but the job doesn't stop there. Once they take the first step, we must encourage their walk. We can't drop the ball on newly saved believers. 

I think this is where I have made a change. I was too comfortable with evil in the past. I had fallen into the libertarian trap of personally excusing my own sins and the sins of others. If the sin doesn't harm someone else, then it really didn't matter. That was my rationalization. I was wrong. The sin harmed God and that is immeasurably worse. I had stopped holding fast to what was good.

I never thought this much change could come from signing a commitment card to be a part of a political campaign, but it did. God works in mysterious and wonderful ways. Little did I know that half of the people on stage at the Rally for Religious Liberty that I attended in Des Moines last August would now be my friends. I look back on what happened that day and I can't comprehend it. I do know that I don't want to return to my days of just living for me. When I look back, I was wandering aimlessly and we were all created for so much more than that. Serving others in the name of God, and therefore, leading them to salvation is our ultimate commandment from Jesus.

I want to love my Christian family without pretense. I've seen what happens when people I know love unconditionally and I want to follow that example. God rejoices when we follow him. I also need to continue to abhor that which is evil. There can be no more moral equivalency. Virtue and righteousness are diametrically opposed to sin. If it is biblical, it is worthy. If it isn't, it isn't. That's not to say that we won't fail, because we will. We must always ask for forgiveness and repent. We must realize we will never be perfect while still working towards drawing near to God. 

What has been my biggest help has been realizing that I'm never going to be able to pay back my debt to God, but in His infinite and patient mercy, that debt was paid by Jesus. Jesus was the final Passover Lamb. For this reason, I must tell people about Him and I must help lead others to Him.

To sum this up, we must surround ourselves with other good Christians and use each other to hold one anther accountable. I've found that support system with my church and the best group of people I've ever been around. We must encourage others to do the same. If people think you are a little nutty, so be it. I'd rather be laughed at by those who think this world is all there is while I still strive to live for God. Hold fast to what is good.