Gratitude. A Wrathful Man Stirs Up Strife. Can a Nation Turn Back to God? Update.

Gratitude.

“We live at the time in man's history where we understand as never before the wonders of life.

Cristofer Jeschke/Unsplash

Without gratitude to God and others in our lives, we are dark and dismal with no inner light. Turn on your light and be thankful.

Plants, animals, birds, fish and mankind—all are wonderfully made. The more we study and learn about how life continues, the more amazed we ought to be. Our hearts beat without our interference, our food digests while we do not even think about it, our blood carried oxygen and food to each cell and removes waste without stopping for a "thank you."

But we have a mind that can appreciate that every breath we breathe, every electric impulse that is our brain, every beat of our heart and all we are have been given to us from our Creator. God does not stand by and seek our appreciation, but we are blind, deaf and dumb indeed if our hearts do not burst with thanksgiving and gratitude.

Gratitude is a natural flower that grows within the person who considers who and what he is and where he is going. David wrote of being thankful in Psalm 100 and Paul simply said, "Be ye thankful" (Colossians 3:15). Without gratitude to God and others in our lives, we are dark and dismal with no inner light. Turn on your light and be thankful.” From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/blogs/this-is-the-way/gratitude

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A Wrathful Man Stirs Up Strife

Proverbs 15:18

“A wrathful man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger allays contention.

Once again, wise King Solomon points out the dangers of anger and contention. Being slow to anger can prevent a multitude of problems. This is demonstrated in many ways, but can be especially seen in our words (see Proverbs 15:1, for example).

For more about dealing with anger, see “A Biblical Look at Anger Management.” For more about being a peacemaker, see “Blessed Are the Peacemakers.”

For more about wise communication, see the helpful article in our section on “Communication.” From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/blog/a-wrathful-man-stirs-up-strife/?

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Can a Nation Turn Back to God?

“God makes His standards of behavior—and the consequences for violating those standards—crystal clear in the pages of the Bible. God demonstrates time and again that His standards of behavior—summarized in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) and what Jesus Christ described as the two “great commandments” (see Mark 12:29-31)—exist for the good of humanity. When practiced, they lead to a far higher quality of life, both now and in the life to come.

God allows free will, the capacity for men and women to make choices. God invites, even commands, people to choose life and the pathway that leads to life. But He allows people to make wrong choices—and suffer the consequences, even through succeeding generations.

Much of the Bible represents a call to action to turn to His way of life, both on a national scale and individually.

Happily, the Bible records several instances where people—both collectively as a nation and personally—heeded this divine call to action. People chose to give up their old way of living and began to “think differently”—the Greek word translated “repent” actually meaning to change one’s mind. When they changed the way they were thinking, surrendered to God and reformed their behavior, amazing things happened.

But is this limited to God’s chosen nation of Israel? What about other nations or peoples?

God’s standards are omnipresent. His way of life is a living way. And the Bible records God’s intervention and pronouncements involving empires and countries large and small. Moreover, God has preserved a specific and important example of another nation humbling itself before Him.

This example is that of a major economic and societal power of biblical times—ancient Nineveh. Nineveh represents one of the oldest and greatest cities of the ancient world. It served as the capital of the Assyrian Empire, reaching its zenith around 700 B.C.

But during that time, in the face of the cruel actions of the city and its inhabitants, God sent a prophet to declare the depravity of the city’s transgressions and announce coming divine judgment. His instructions to the prophet are preserved for us: “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me” (Jonah 1:2, English Standard Version).

God sent the prophet Jonah, whose mission and existence was validated by none other than Jesus Christ Himself (Matthew 12:39-42). Jonah came to that great ancient city and declared its soon-coming demise: “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (Jonah 3:4, ESV, emphasis added throughout).

Then something amazing happened: “The people of Nineveh believed God” (verse 6). Alarmed at the prospect of suffering vast destruction, the entire city—“from the greatest of them to the least”—took part in a citywide fast. The people were committed to showing God they were willing to change. The king even issued a proclamation commanding the city’s inhabitants to “call out mightily to God” (verse 8). His directive? “Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.”

Even though Nineveh’s doom had been declared, the king hoped: “Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish” (verse 9).

The result? “When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it” (verse 10). The people of the great city of Nineveh presented themselves before God in a repentant attitude and were spared!

As Jesus Himself confirmed, “The men of Nineveh … repented [changed their mind and behavior] at the preaching of Jonah” (Matthew 12:41, ESV). Jesus does not refer to the “fairy tale of Jonah.” He confirms that everything in the book of Jonah is real history—it really happened!

The same is true today! Any nation or peoples—whether in the Americas, Europe, Asia or Africa—can save themselves by turning to God. “I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live” (Ezekiel 18:32, ESV).

Even though the Bible prophesies economic calamity and widespread destruction before the return of Jesus Christ, God provides a way out or through. While these words were specifically given to Israel, they apply to all of mankind: “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14, ESV).

What about you? Don’t wait for others in your nation to turn and seek God. As the apostle Peter urges you and everyone in Acts 2:40 (ESV), “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!””

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Update

On Tuesday I went on the bus to College Station to my ophthalmologist appointment. My daughter is able to drive short distances now since her accident, so she met me there, but she wasn’t feeling very well so we only had a short visit before the bus came to take me home again.   I have to have more surgery on my eyes in January.

We three Sabbath keepers had our usual Bible study on Friday morning. Sherry and I had intended to go to my old church in Willis on the Sabbath morning, but bad storms were forecast, and the pastor decided that it would be safer if everyone stayed home. Many of that congregation travel quite a way to attend. That was a shame because I was looking forward to seeing them all again and had prepared several dishes for the potluck. Organic chicken salad, lentil bread, honeydew melon, yellow squash and cucumber salad.  All foods which did not require spending time in the church’s kitchen.  The pastor’s wife doesn’t go anymore, she is not well.

So Sherry and I went to the Sabbath School Bible study at the church around the corner for the Sabbath day.

America at a Crossroads. Be Anxious for Nothing.

America at a Crossroads, Which Path Will It Take?

“What’s driving so much division and chaos in American society today? Why are there such starkly different visions of the nation’s future? What does this mean for you?

stillfx/123RF

Today America is again deeply divided. It stands at a crucial crossroads.

“Death to America! Death to America! Death to America!” The chants and shouts of hundreds of marchers echoed off the walls of the buildings and down the streets. Their sentiments were plain to see.

Yet the streets in this scene weren’t those of a Middle Eastern city, and the marchers weren’t people in Iran calling for the downfall of the United States. No, the streets were in a major California city, and the protestors calling for the end of their country were American.

And to make their message perfectly clear, the crowd, many among them declaring support for Black Lives Matter, broke windows, smashed cars, vandalized businesses and attacked police officers.

Perhaps what is most surprising about this scene is that it wasn’t surprising at all. It was only a matter of time before crowds that toppled statues of major American historical figures (including some who played key roles in the nation’s struggle to end slavery), that burned and vandalized hundreds of businesses and that called for the murder of police would at some point end the charade and make their intentions plain for the world to see.

Their goals have been made clear in other chants as well. In addition to the common “No justice, no peace,” marchers have called for the burning of police stations (“Every city, every town, burn the precincts to the ground!”), support of criminals (“Who do we protect? Black felons!”) and overthrow of elected governments (“You can’t stop the revolution!”).

Two very different agendas

A few will stop reading this article at this point and accuse Beyond Today of being “too political” and a tool for right-wing interests. This happens every time we discuss social issues. But our only agenda is God’s agenda. Our Master isn’t a politician, but the coming King of the world, Jesus Christ. And make no mistake: There is a godly, biblical perspective on social issues, and there is an ungodly, anti-biblical perspective on social issues.

Our reason for producing the Beyond Today magazine and television program is to present God’s perspective on what’s happening in the world and to explain it from His Word, the Holy Bible.

The Bible contains many prophecies about conditions in the time leading up to the return of Jesus Christ, and we explain world conditions in the light of Bible prophecy. If you don’t care what God thinks, you might as well stop reading now. But if you want to really understand what’s going on in our world and forces at work to transform America into something very different, read on.”

Will we destroy ourselves?”    Continued at: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-magazine/america-at-a-crossroads-which-path-will-it-take

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Be Anxious for Nothing

Philippians 4:6-7

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

“Anxiety is our natural reaction to the troubles of this life, but Paul reminds us of some of the antidotes to worry. We can turn our worries over to God through fervent prayer. Paul encourages us to include thankfulness in our prayers to help us have the proper perspective. Being thankful requires us to step back and see how God has helped us and others in the past. This helps us to remember God’s power and His faithfulness.

And God will respond to these requests delivered in thankfulness. He offers a spiritual peace of mind that is beyond human comprehension. Though our minds are a battle zone, God will provide a guard to protect us.

For more encouraging scriptures, see our article on “Encouraging Bible Verses.” For more about overcoming worry, see “Enemy of Faith: Worry” and “Coping With Anxiety.” From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/blog/be-anxious-for-nothing/?

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Anxious

Transcript of YouTube: https://youtu.be/RHKnkSgTNNo

[Steve Myers] “There's a passage in Mark that caught my attention the other day, that normally when you look at it, you wouldn't think it necessarily applies much today. But after thinking about it a little more, I think it really does. It's over in Mark 6. Mark 6, starting in verse 7. And this is when Christ is talking to the disciples and He's gonna send them out to preach and teach. And here's what He gives them for instructions. It says He called the 12 to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. So oftentimes, we focus on that section of the passage, that Christ is sending them out to be examples, and preaching and teaching, and have the power of God. But then He also says this, He commanded them to take nothing for the journey, except a staff, no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts, but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics. So you think about verse 7. And you look at that and it's like, "Wow, they weren't supposed to do much of anything in preparation."

And as I thought about that, in a sense, Christ is saying, "You guys, you need to live like me," where Christ wasn't dependent on physical things. Christ lived his life, in full dependence on the Father. And as I began to think about this, it leads right to that fact that God can and God will look after us.

I mean, right now we're living in interesting times, with so many challenges around us. And whether it's COVID-19, or whether it's an election, or whether it's just the uncertainty of whether my job will continue, the economy, will it be okay? What's going to happen? All of those things, I think, come back to this word that Christ gave His disciples, that we don't have to be overly anxious. We don't have to be overly worried because Christ can take care of us. When we put our reliance on God, we don't need a bag we don't need bread, we don't need money. We can just wear sandals. We don't need an extra coat. Because ultimately, our spiritual dependence is on God, and God promises to take care of us.

So we can take that to heart. Let's lean on that promise. Let's be reminded that we walk by faith, not by sight. And whatever it may look like around us, that's not reality. The reality is, I don't have to be overly anxious because I am always in God's care.” From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-daily/anxious-0

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Humility: The Surprising Key to Lasting Success. Gratitude? Stubbornness. Update.

For “Scripture Sunday”

Humility: The Surprising Key to Lasting Success

“You can find dozens of business and self-help books giving keys to success, but most overlook this vital key that makes all the difference—humility.

‘Would you like to know the single greatest factor in real success?

It’s not something most people would guess, and yet the answer has been around at least as long as the Bible. That key is not solely a matter of having vision or setting goals. It is not merely the result of passion, nor is it simply the product of drive, resourcefulness or perseverance. These are all important elements, and you certainly need them to succeed, but I do not believe they are the single greatest key.

I believe that key is humility—a realistic understanding of our own importance in relation to God and other people.

Without humility, whatever success you achieve will be shallow and joyless. Why?

Because humility allows you to put your accomplishments into perspective—it reshapes your goals, your passion and every other factor in your pursuit of success. Humility makes it possible for you to respond to and have a good relationship with your God, who looks “on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit” (Isaiah 66:2).

Let’s take a look at the impact of humility on three of the most commonly recognized steps necessary for success.

1. Goal setting

Almost everyone who lays out a plan for attaining success includes goal setting, whether those words are used or not. For example, in his 1989 classic The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen R. Covey tells his readers that they must “begin with the end in mind.” That’s just another way to say begin by setting goals.

Humility affects the type of goals you set. Are your goals about getting as much as you can, whether it’s money, prestige or power? Then you’re setting the wrong goals! On the other hand, if your goals reflect a desire to serve God as well as your fellow human beings, then you are on the right track.

When you set your goals, keep in mind the two great commandments: “you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37) and “you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (verse 39). Humility in goal setting means recognizing your God-given talents and then planning to use them in serving God and His children.

2. Preparation and education

You won’t go very far in your life unless you prepare yourself for whatever path you will follow. If you want to be an electrician, for instance, you’d better learn all you can or you won’t be able—or even allowed—to do the work.

So what does humility have to do with education? Quite a bit, actually. First, you need to recognize that you don’t have all the answers. You can learn from other individuals in your chosen field.

That’s simple enough, but at a more basic level, humility will prompt you to assess your own natural talents and abilities against the career paths that appeal to you. You’ll ask yourself whether you are a good fit, not only because you want to succeed for yourself, but because you want to succeed for others.

You’ll want to succeed for loved ones who depend on your income. You’ll want to succeed for coworkers who depend on your contribution to the team. And you’ll want to succeed for customers or clients who depend on you to do a thorough job.

Then, once you’ve assessed your God-given talents honestly, you’ll be ready to prepare yourself, through the appropriate education, to use those talents well.

3. Passion

Another element often included in recipes for success is passion—and the drive that comes because of it. When you don’t care, you won’t act, so you won’t succeed. But how does humility affect your passion?

If you care about what God wants and what other people need, and if you are pursuing goals that reflect that care, you’ll find that your passion is greater.

Let’s say, for instance, that you are in sales. If you don’t really believe a potential customer will benefit from your product, you’ll find it nearly impossible to pitch it. On the other hand, if you are convinced that your product will solve a customer’s problem, you’ll find yourself driven to share that solution.

We could spend page after page considering the impact of humility on other traits and actions associated with success, but let’s move on to considering the inherent struggle we all face.

Clothed with humility

Unfortunately, as human beings we tend to put ourselves first. Our natural tendencies are at war with humility and always will be.

“Humility is a choice—and so is arrogance.”Pat Williams, in his book Humility: The Secret Ingredient of Success, came to believe that “any person of true greatness” throughout history was “also a person of deep humility” (2016, p. 18). Anyone who aspires to greatness, though, must first recognize the internal struggle and then choose humility:

“Humility is a choice—and so is arrogance. The wild beast of arrogance always lurks within us and can only be subdued by a more powerful, more spiritual force: the character strength of humility. We must continually choose an attitude of humility—or we will choose arrogance by default” (pp. 40-41).

The apostle Peter describes this choice as “clothe yourselves with humility” (1 Peter 5:5, New International Version). That seems like a strange way to describe the choice we make until we look into the meaning of the Greek. According to The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, “‘Clothe yourselves’ (egkombosasthe) is a rare word that refers to a slave putting on an apron before serving. So Christians are to imitate their Lord, who girded himself and served” (1981, Vol. 12).

Christ’s example of service

The second sentence of the Expositor’s quote refers to John 13, which describes Christ as He assumed the role of the lowest of household servants to wash the feet of His disciples. An important aspect of being clothed with humility is choosing to serve by choosing to do what the people around you need.

So what does this have to do with success? We find the answer in a companion passage. On that very night before Christ was crucified, the night on which He took the role of a servant to wash the feet of His disciples, they began to argue about who among them would be greatest in the Kingdom (Luke 22:24). In essence, they were concerned about their own success.

What Christ said is revealing. After mentioning that gentile kings routinely “exercise lordship” (verse 25), Christ taught His disciples that whoever “is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves” (verse 26).

If we want to succeed in life, then we, too, must continually choose humility.

Sidebar: What, Exactly, Is Humility?

In our narcissistic age of social media and selfies, the idea of humility being an important principle for success, let alone a critically important key, seems absurd. After all, the Western world has tirelessly promoted self-esteem as vital to emotional well-being ever since psychologist Abraham Maslow published his hierarchy of needs in 1943.

Isn’t self-esteem in opposition to humility? To be humble, don’t we have to think of ourselves as having little or no value? And if we don’t believe we have value—that we have something to offer—then why would anyone else believe we do?

The answers become clear when we begin to consider Christ’s example. No one would argue that He saw Himself as having little or no value, and yet neither would anyone argue that He lacked humility.

“Let this mind be in you”

One of the most moving passages in Scripture is in Paul’s letter to the Philippian church. Paul admonishes the Church to adopt the mind-set of Christ, and that mind-set is one of humility:

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:3-8).

Notice that Christ “did not consider it robbery to be equal with God” (verse 6), so He did not think of Himself as having little value. On the other hand, Christ “humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death” (verse 8).

Humility, then, is not just about how we view ourselves. It is about how we view others. Of course, none of us should have an exaggerated sense of importance, but denying our God-given talents is just as wrong. The right approach is a realistic appraisal of our own abilities, coupled with a desire to use those abilities to serve others. That is real humility!”  https://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/christian-living/humility/humility-surprising-key-to-success/?

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Gratitude?

Imagine that you woke up today, and everything was gone.  EVERYTHING!
Everything except; that which you expressed gratitude for yesterday.  
What would you have?
Your house?  Your family?  Your pets?  Running water?  Food?  Community?

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Stubbornness

“We have all encountered stubborn and obstinate people, and maybe we were or are one of them.

Lean Xview/Unsplash

Be stubborn for the right things.

Stubbornness can be a good quality in a person if it is tempered with wisdom. When it leads to obstinacy and contradiction, the stubborn one needs to be able to weigh the pros and cons and know when to quit. Funny how being obstinate or contrary subsides when we no longer dig our heels in. "Stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry" (1 Samuel 15:23) when it means rejecting the word of God for Satan's way.

There are a number of encouragements in the Bible to "stand fast." God is pleased with one who holds fast to what is right. The word stubborn seems to mean holding fast no matter how wrong we are. God wants us to hold fast when we are right. Paul encouraged the Philippians to hold fast to that which is good and to stand fast in the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:21 and 2 Thessalonians 2:15). Be stubborn for the right things.” https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/blogs/this-is-the-way/stubbornness

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Update

There hasn’t been an update for a while because, mostly, I didn’t have anything new or interesting to talk about, but now a few things have occurred.  Whether they are of interest to anyone but me, I don’t know. 

Are you tired of the Medicare ads, I know I am.  But I accidentally found out that my health plan did need to be updated.  Someone who has the same plan as I do told me that they are now adding a food card, and one of those “Help” alerts, so I met my insurance broker and we got that done.  Might not hurt to see how your plan stacks up with the new year’s additions.

I drove June, my new neighbor, to have an x-ray on her leg, she had to drink stuff that would show up on it, and it made her feel bad.  But we had left early so that we could could go grocery shopping beforehand at a big supermarket and get organic food, which we packed in insulated bags with blocks of dry ice.  The sun was really bright that day, and it hurt my eyes a lot.  I am having them checked at an ophthalmologist next week.

We three Sabbath keepers had our normal Friday morning Bible study, then Sherry and I went to the Sabbath School at the church to go over the week’s lesson, as usual.

In the afternoon June and I went to Brenham, TX to a Bible study there.  We tried to get out of there early enough so that we wouldn’t be driving in the dark, but we didn’t make it, and June’s phone’s GPS took us down some really dark country roads.  It was pretty scary.

Neither us can drive in the dark, so one of the other people said that they would come and pick us up the next Sabbath to take us to the next Bible study which was in Paige, TX.  That was a long way, but we had an enjoyable afternoon fellowshipping and studying with the group there. The ride there and back was great talking to the couple who drove us.  In the morning I had gone to the local church for Sabbath school and then we didn’t get home until nearly 8.00 pm, so that was a long day.

Freedom to Proclaim. What Will the Next President Face?

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Freedom to Proclaim

The election is now over, but some still seem to think that it isn’t quite over yet ! 

“The American Presidential election is over—well, almost over. As I write, a clear winner has not yet been called. It appears the result may not be known for several days. It also appears that the results will likely be contested. The current cultural and political divide in the United States is deep. Like Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2:1-2 “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”

Paul did not want a life of retirement and doing nothing. A reading of the book of Acts shows us why he wanted those prayers and why a quiet and peace. It was so he and the Church could boldly be about the Lord’s business preaching the gospel of the Kingdom without hindrance. He did not want interference from government that would limit freedom to do the Work of God. That is why we should pray that whoever is in control of government—in America or elsewhere—exercises authority justly and in a manner that proves maximum liberty.

At Beyond Today we desire freedom to proclaim and publish the gospel with no interference from government or any other body such as big tech. America has laws guaranteeing freedom of speech and religious liberty. We should take every legal and prudent step to protect those liberties. History shows that excessive and abusive authority, whether secular government, religion or business, will restrict free speech and religious worship. While this recent political season has seen some forms of censoring, we are not at a point where this freedom is limited. But we must be vigilant.

God is the giver of freedom. He is the guarantor of freedom: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). I don’t think we appreciate freedom with this perspective. What we have in America is unique in all the world. It always has been. God planted America when He did, at a time in history to take root and grow like a vine over its walls and to go out to world as a blessing of freedom and liberty, and a people willing to defend the rights proclaimed in its Constitution.

In the aftermath of this election season, it is critical to remember that God’s purpose stands. Keep your eye on Him and your faith intact. Be sure and be steady in conviction that Christ rules and He is coming. I was reading in the Psalms this morning and found a perfect thought for the moment: “The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance” (Psalm 33:11).  From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today?source=weeklyupdate .

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What Will the Next President Face? (Part 3)

“The servants God sent to the kings of Israel and Judah had difficult roles. Their message was not popular, and they were often rejected as irrelevant to those who held power. Only a few of the kings of Judah listened to these men of God. But those kings who heeded the warnings—and the nation they led—experienced relative times of peace and prosperity. What did a good and wise ruler need to do to steer his people into a right path? Let's read on and see...

Good morning, Mr. President! Good of you to make room for me in your busy schedule today.

I notice your days are getting hectic and crowded as the economic situation becomes more complicated. As your travel schedule increases, I understand these meetings between you and me may become less frequent. Let me spend time today answering the question you wrote to me after our last meeting.

You asked, "What would be the one thing I could do as America's president and the leader of the free world to ensure peace and prosperity?" It is a good question. It is the right question.

It echoes what King Solomon said when he became king of Israel. He said to God, "You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?" (1 Kings 3:7-9).

Mr. President, you are no doubt getting spiritual advice from other counselors. What I am about to tell you will not be found in their counsel. It will be hard for you to grasp and accept. But if you desire the best for the nation and its people, you will listen carefully and consider.

A form of religion

America's fundamental problem is it does not know the true God. Now, it claims to be a Christian nation. The founding fathers believed in God, the Bible and even invoked the Ten Commandments as vital for any nation to prosper. On the American currency is inscribed, "In God We Trust."

The majority faith in the land is Christianity. Forty percent of those asked claim to attend church each week, but actual attendance figures say the total is much lower. I could quote a pile of statistics to you, sir, but you already know that many claim to believe in God, religion, the Bible and many things spiritual. But it is the substance of those beliefs that we are concerned about.

When actual practices and beliefs of professing Christians are examined in the light of what the Bible says, a wide discrepancy is found. Many of their central teachings about God and Jesus Christ are not found in the Bible. The list is long and ranges from the true nature of God to the teachings of Jesus about the Kingdom of God , from the timing of Christ's birth to days on which He died and rose, from the day on which Christ worshipped to the teaching of what happens to a person at death. Confusion reigns when it comes to basic knowledge and understanding about God and His teachings.

The result of this confusion is a nation that has a form of religion but not the whole truth.

This may sound surprising. You may ask how—when all these churches do good works and proclaim God's message—it could be said that America is not following God? The answer lies deep within the story of how God works with His people.”  More at: ttps://www.ucg.org/world-news-and-prophecy/what-will-the-next-president-face-part-3?source=weeklyupdate

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