Dealing with Chronic Pain

OFF MY CHEST - FROM MY HEART
Applications In Wellness From The Word of God, by Pastor Bulldog.
". . . I pray God your whole SPIRIT and SOUL and BODY be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1Thessalonians 5:23b).

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Devotional #46 - RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTETH A NATION - PART ONE
- by Pastor Bulldog
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UNRIGHTEOUS SpIN
"Spin doctors" are making me sick! I have lived to see six Democratic presidents and six Republican presidents. A lot of spin, like so much cotton candy, has spun. But I have never, EVER seen "spin" rob God-fearing Democrats of their heritage like the professional "spin doctors" during this presidential race. True democrats understand that and are seen maintaining a respectful distance from the action.

Am I interposing my faith into politics? Certainly! I see righteousness in danger of saying "bye-bye" to this nation. The anti-religious, lop-sided, biased media, the entertainment industry, and secular humanists are responsible for this. In lock step with them are churchgoers, who having a form of godliness, but denying the power, posture themselves with their "pious" pastors, and embrace "passed-from-the-scene" politicos. They "squawk" when believers speak, but try to force their godless values on evangelical Christians by shouting them down. They parrot their carefully scripted stale mantra of lies, while ignoring the truth, even after having been revealed from careful investigation. If the man whose plans are formed by these same special interest groups wins, I believe that they, not him, will rule the nation and usher in wholesale unrighteousness. That's why I am speaking out.

Forgive me if I sound mean-spirited (I can't help reply in kind). I am retired, seventy-seven, and cranky. I am indignant because I see that the battle on the home front has developed into unrighteousness versus righteousness.

I don't expect every candidate to be a born-again Christian, although that is a plus. What is important, spiritually, is that he strives to maintain the spiritual values and morals that our founding fathers used in order to establish this nation, our Constitution and Bill of Rights. There were Deists, Agnostics, and Existentionalists among them, but they all agreed on the value system of the Bible: that righteousness exalteth a nation.

RIGHTEOUS ISSUES
I must weigh a candidate's life and actions against Bible standards, not about debates on issues or who is the best leader for the fight against terror. Why? Am I serious? Yes, because Jesus said, "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? - - for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But SEEK YE FIRST the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and ALL THESE THINGS shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:31-33). Simplistic? Well, that's how a pastor thinks. He just believes God. The Psalmist tells us to offer sacrifices of righteousness, and trust in the LORD. We all have choices! "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 8:5).

So, all things being equal, I would choose the man with the best spiritual credentials. Let's examine a passage of scripture, in its context, that Senator Kerry inserted into the debates and speeches: James 2:20. We should be like the church at Berea. They did not take Paul's teaching without investigation. They "searched the scriptures daily to see whether those things were so." My comments are inserted within the text.

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"But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" [That's where he stopped, but let's go on with what James says], "Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?" [It is a picture of God the Father offering his only begotten Son for our sins. It was his faith that resulted in works, but let's go on.] "Seest thou how a FAITH wrought WITH HIS WORKS, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God" (James 2:20-26). [Abraham was saved by grace through faith like everybody else, "not of works lest any man should boast," but was "created in Christ Jesus unto good works," not by his own righteousness. Or, as Paul told the Galatians, "- - a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ" Face it - - you cannot earn your way into heaven, it's a g!
ift of grace through faith.]
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The word of God says, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Titus 3:5). So, as much as I would like to consider Mr. Kerry as a viable candidate, I just can't, because he intends to do all the things he says by his own efforts - WORKS. But if he does do all he says he's going to do, immediately, and in he time frame he states, we can all raise our hands and shout "Hallelujah - - IT'S A MIRACLE!" Deception is unrighteousness and I believe God-fearing people are allowing themselves to be deceived. And he is purposely scaring the elderly, and those with life-threatening illnesses are being given false hope.

If I was in charge of Human Relations for the Oval Office, I would have to say, "I'm sorry, Senator. I can't take you on right now. Your four months of service in Vietnam is admirable, as are those who served six years in the Hanoi Hilton at the same time, but perhaps in another 20 years, in your present capacity, you can strengthen your resume. Would you please send in Senator Lieberman?"

RIGHTEOUSNESS IS FROM A RIGHTEOUS GOD
Space does not permit me to offer a comparison of their debate statements of faith, so - - let's be good Bereans and check them out ourselves, okay? Here are some web sites that will give you a chance to compare. Please see for yourselves and ask, "Where is God's power in these statements?" Click on the URL or paste it into your browser.

>>> BUSH/KERRY DEBATES, October 13, 2004 - "Commission On Presidential Debates." http://www.debates.org/pages/trans2004d.html, Scroll down toward the end to read their answers regarding their faith.
>>> STATEMENT OF FAITH, George W. Bush - from "Find The Power." GWB - http://www.findthepower.com/PageOne/SiteStartStatementOfFaithGWBush.htm, (Be sure to get the entire URL in your browser) This is a heart warming statement of faith. Have some tissues on hand.
>>> A STATEMENT OF FAITH, John Kerry - Interfaith Alliance
http://www.faithandvalues.com/tx/IA-3/1/, I tried, but most of all I came across on the web are of how he will do things better.
>>> GEORGE W. BUSH on His Faith in relation to His Office - The National Review. http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?pt=vKO1twmWG2Uvnyi2qoWQfW%3D%3D,
>>> GEORGE W. BUSH, His Faith in relation to His Office - Christian Science Monitor. http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0906/p01s03-uspo.html.

POLITICS CAN EMBRACE RIGHTEOUSNESS:
The good news is that we can reclaim our nation; we can take it back and send the muckrakers scrambling. "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners [Doesn't it?]. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame" (1Corinthians 15:33).

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"Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he UNDERSTANDETH and KNOWETH me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD" (Jeremiah 9:23, 24).
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This country needs a two-party system - - even a third party system maybe. There have been some great Democratic Party presidents, legislators and justices. And there have been many of the same from the Republican Party - - our system of checks and balances works.

I refuse to let the usurpers of the Democratic party with their false, empty, and impossible legislative agenda of miracles from a godless La La Land, lull me with their INSULTING implications that I cannot think without their help. My thought processes are formed by Bible standards and examples. My leader will be the one that gives me freedom from restricting government policies and bureaucrats and lets God be God, unashamedly. Although I call him Mr. President, in my heart I call him my brother in Christ. I love him and pray for him, his noble wife and their children. "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God" (Romans 8:16). Our God will take care of the issues if we seek Him first.

In the next devotional, Part Two, I want to lay out some Bible principles defending this nations right to pursue terrorists wherever they are in the world. It will take a strong unwavering leader to carry this out. We already have one.

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"Beloved, (We) wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth" (3 John 1:2).

Robert and Helen Adams
(aka Pastor and Mrs. Bulldog)
When things get Rrrruff, go Grrrrrr.
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: http://www.pastorbulldog.com
Phone: (913) 236-4560
5954 Woodson - #109
Mission, Kansas (KS) 66202
For the reason we are called Pastor and Mrs. Bulldog, go to our web site:
http://www.pastorbulldog.com/
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Copyright (c), 2003-2004, All Rights Reserved by The SURVIVOR INTERNET MINISTRY, INTL. CRISIS PRAYER REQUESTS (CPR), OFF MY CHEST-FROM MY HEART, Robert N. Adams, Director, http://www.pastorbulldog.com/
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