We Are Not God's Victims

One question that often comes up when I am sharing my faith with someone or when I am trying to encourage a believer that is going through a difficult time is, “Why does God let bad things happen?” Others take a more oppositional stance saying, “I can never follow a God that would allow (insert bad thing here) to happen.”

It is not wrong to ask the question, “Why does God let bad things happen?” It is an honest question often asked as part of the maturation of a believer or the musings of a skeptic. It is also a question for which we do not have all the answers. Many times, as a pastor, my response is simply, “I don’t know. But I know that He still loves and cares for you even if it is difficult for you to see or feel it.”

We live in a fallen world. The world today is not the orderly creation God created in the beginning. This is not to say that we cannot see God’s order in creation. Certainly the Bible is true when it tells us:

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands. Day after day they pour our speech; night after night they communicate knowledge.” Psalm 19:1

The order of creation, from the atom to the cosmos, challenges even the most hardened skeptic to consider the thought of a Creator. But it is true that all is not as orderly as it could be. Cancers exist in the body. Food shortages on the earth lead to famines. Earthquakes shake violently and rip open the very earth upon which we stand. Wars abound. Nations fight nations and families are ripped apart. Babies die. Terrorists kill thousands—delusional in their belief that they are doing the work of God. It is not as it was in Eden; creation is not in a state of perfection. Sin destroyed that order and peace.

All of creation is under the curse of the fall. All of creation experiences the pains of our sin which has been passed on to each of us by Adam and Eve. There is no human without sin and there is no sin without consequence. Those consequences multiply and magnify each other so that we no longer experience creation as God designed it in the beginning.

To complicate our understanding, we know that God is sovereign over His creation. We know Him to be omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent. There is nothing to know that He does not already know. The future is to Him just as the past is. He transcends time and space and could, if He desired, change everything so that all would be bliss. But that bliss would come at a cost. The cost would be our free agency to choose and the capacity to love. A robotic life would not be blissful and would be inferior to what He has designed for us.

From time to time, I meet someone who asks the question with an angry tone in the inquiry. Whether the person has experience a painful loss, deep hurt, betrayal or any other of the challenges common to man, the implication is, “God could have done something about this, but He didn’t. Therefore, I will not follow Him or believe in Him.” Such anger is common, but is truly misplaced. This mentality assumes mankind to be the victim of God.

We are not God’s victims. He is not a malevolent being that desires to see our hurt and pain. Quite the opposite is true. He desires to bless us; He desires a loving relationship with us. In fact, the question also demonstrates blindness to a certain reality and truth. The real question should be, “Why does God put up with us?”

We are unfaithful to Him. We betray him on a regular basis with the choices we make in our lives. We deny Him with our silence about Him. We ignore Him except when we realize we need Him (usually as a result of our own sinfulness). We fail to worship Him, commune with Him and give to Him. We are all recipients of his common grace. Through faith in Christ, believers receive a special grace, the forgiveness of our sins; release from the eternal consequence of our sinfulness.

We must never forget that we are not worthy recipients of grace. We must never delude ourselves in thinking that we are inherently good and worthy of some merit. We are not. What difficulties come our way, whatever they may be, are never what we deserve…for we deserve destruction. Instead we get a measure of grace—lots of amazing grace.

One day, those who have placed their faith and trust in Christ, will find everlasting peace in a place filled with perfection as stand in the very presence of God in all of His glory. As Paul writes:

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s son’s to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to futility—no willingly, but because of Him who subjected it—in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God’s children. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. And not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. Now in this hope we were saved, yet hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.” Romans 8:18-25 HCSB

We struggle today in a groaning creation. We see our own sinfulness and the sin of the world and ask, “Why does God allow anything good to come my way?” But for the common grace of God, none of us could stand. But with the special grace given through faith in Christ, we who believe will one day be set free from this world and its groanings, transformed gloriously into the likeness that God intended for us in Eden. But until then we wait. Patiently. We are not His victims. We are the benefactors of His Son. We wait for our inheritance.

Worldly Advice About Children and Debt

Last week I was browsing an article from a local magazine, Kin, (December 2010) published by the St. Joseph News-Press.   I wish I could find a link to share, but I cannot find it online.  In an article dealing with children and debt I found some advice that startled me. 

A local CPA was interviewed and offered the following advice, "Kids should get credit cards with low rates at an early age so they understand how they work." 

Certainly we need to train our children in the proper stewardship of money, but the better alternative is to teach a child to live independently from credit.  Having made mistatkes with debt in my own life, I am convinced we would be better to teach our children lessons about savings, paying with cash, and living within their means than teaching them how to manage credit--teaching them a longer view of life.   The pleasures of the moment drive our culture.  That should not be the value we teach our children.

Who Will Show Them a Father?

Ten years ago I had the joy of serving as a youth pastor. I recall one Wednesday evening during a busy week that I had not had significant time to prepare for the evening’s Bible study time. I looked through all the videos in my bookshelf to find an option and came across a video to share with a bunch of seventh and eighth-grade boys. I cringed as I pulled the video from the shelf because I hated the whole “Bible study in a box” approach to ministry. Nevertheless, it was what we were going to do that night.


Next to senior adults, teenagers are often the most difficult and rewarding to minister to, in my opinion. As I started the video, I realized that most of the boys seemed not to be paying any attention to the show. They were squirrely that night. They talked, giggled like girls, and picked on each other. I remember wondering if they were getting anything out of the study.


I don’t recall the title of the video or the plot in the story, but I do recall when I thought the boys had nearly pushed my very last button that something extraordinary happened. In the video, a man speaking to one of the boys in the video said, “the reason you have such a hard time accepting a heavenly Father that loves you is because you have never known the love of a father in your own life.”


The room went silent. In that moment I learned three things. First, junior-high boys can multitask. Secondly, sometimes they ARE listening when you don’t think they are. Third and most importantly, most don’t know the love of a father and it pains them deeply.


My heart breaks for the boys in our culture that have never known their father. Many of them are products of broken marriages with dead-beat dads who were more concerned about their own pleasures than meeting the needs of a spouse and family. A few have lost their fathers through death especially in the youngest of our boys whose fathers have fought overseas. Many are not given the opportunity to see their father due to court arrangements that often unfairly favor the mother. Some, through loose living of their mother do not even know who their father is or which partner of her past might be their father. Others only know their father’s abusive words and hands. 


A couple of weeks ago I read a social-networking post of a teenage boy that was nervous because he had found his father and was going to meet him for the first time. I never heard how that meeting turned out as I do not know the young man. I would not be surprised if the boy was more disappointed after the meeting.


Our heavenly Father is not like so many of our earthly fathers. Our heavenly Father never leaves us. He is our provider and protector. He loves us. He never ignores; never abuses.   His word it true and His promises are never broken.  He forever loves His bride.  He is the supreme example of fatherhood for each of us.


My heart breaks for the broken teen-aged boys who do not understand what God has designed and intended for them. I believe God’s heart breaks too.   Consider the following Scripture passages that reveal God's heart.

"...(God) helps the fatherless and the widow."  Psalm 146:8

“A father of the fatherless and a champion of widows is God in His holy dwelling.” Psalm 68:5

I am blessed to have a father that modeled for me what it meant to provide for and protect his family. I pray that my children are blessed as I strive to be the father God has called me to be to them.


Only a father can teach a boy what it means to be a man. Only a father can correct and guide a boy into the passage of adulthood. A father is the only one that truly teach a boy how to love a woman and be a faithful husband. This is not to depreciate the many, wonderful, single mothers in the world. But no matter how great the mother is, she is not a father.


Certainly boys aren’t the only ones who suffer from an absent father and I am not ignoring the fact that little girls are hurt by absent fathers too. I am also cognizant of the fact that there are many girls and boys that are being raised without a mother. It is my observation though that our boys are being damaged by our fatherless culture more than anyone else.


Knowing that we have so many broken families and fatherless homes, I pray the church will rise to help single mothers by partnering in ministry to them.  Our hearts should echo the heart of God in brokeness.  No one can replace a father in a boy’s heart but we can provide godly examples for them to look up to and follow. We can show them the love of the Father in us. The church can encourage young men to be the fathers that God has called them to be by demonstrating the way in our own homes. We can show young fathers and boys that real men love God and love others. The expression of love is not weakness but strength.   Who will show them a father?  Who will show them the Father?

My God Doesn't Need Me to Burn Books

I serve a big, big God.  My God is large enough and powerful enough to speak the universe into existence.  My God is above the heavens and wider than the most powerful of telescopes could ever see.  There is no one like Him.

There are many others that men have called gods.  In ancient times they were called by names such as Ra, Baal, Asherah, and Zeus.  Sometimes, they went without names.  Sometimes man would name a stupid, carved-out stick as a god.  Today, they are given names such as Allah.  In any case, they are all worthless and small, and only exist in the minds of those so deceived and deluded to believe in them.   Hope is not found in dead idols but, rather, in the Living God through Jesus Christ.

Because my God is real and living I do not have to fear the religion of others, nor do I have to stoop to the point of proving it through ridiculous means.   Recently, a so-called pastor from Florida thought he would do God a favor and burn many copies of the Koran.  I’m not sure just what he thought he would be proving, but if He knew the God that I know, it would be totally unnecessary.  My God does not need those books burned to prove Himself.  In fact, He has sent those of us that know Him to be the light of the world, with the Gospel message on our lips wherever our feet should take us. 

Fortunately the Florida pastor called it off, but I suspect the FBI and Pentagon had greater influence on that decision than the man’s wisdom did.  Unfortunately, it did not stop others from acting as ignorantly and to the glee of an biased, main-stream media looking for any reason to blame Christians for the source of their troubles.  (Why else would the media give such inordinate attention to an otherwise unheard of pastor of a 50 member church?)

When others protest my God in Arab-Muslim nations and burn the Bible, I do not get outraged.  I do not demand apologies or seek reparations of self-perceived and falsely claimed damages.  Why not?  Because the burning of books does not diminish my God.  The fact is, evil men were the instruments God used to place His own son on the cross.  The Bible is His inspired Word—His revelation of Himself to humanity.  It is not just another book but I can always print more of them. 

Persecution has never slowed the work of my God and His church.  In fact, God often used it as a catalyst for growth of His kingdom.   He doesn’t need my defense.   I’m also confident that the vengeance my Lord will pour out upon them is far more just and severe in its delivery than any speech or demonstration I can pour forth against them.  And, He will judge them!  But, I pray they would repent and receive forgiveness rather than their just reward in Hell.

In contrast, when a deluded pastor who thinks he’s serving God burns the Koran, the Muslim nations that hate us rise up in great offense.   They demand apologies and burn us in effigy.  They call it an act of war.  They prove the smallness of their god.  They prove the inferiority of their faith.  When they imprison and slaughter Christians in the name of Allah, they show that their god is so much smaller than my God that there can be no comparison. 

It is true that the Scriptures record a Christian book burning.  In Acts chapter 19, the account is told of many sorcerers in Ephesus coming to faith in Christ.  When the sorcerers became believers they burned their own books as a demonstration of their repentance and new faith in Jesus.  They weren’t commanded to burn them nor did they burn the books of anyone else.  It is not the same as what the fool in Florida wanted to do.  This is not what God has called us for.

My God loves me, desires me, even uses me…in spite of me!  I am by my own nature a wretched sinner.  Even so, He loved me so much that He veiled Himself in flesh, in the person of His Son, to live a sinless life as a man and accepting the limitations of the flesh.  He lived 33 years on this earth to die a cruel death on the cross at the hands of ignorant, sinful men.  He died, paying the penalty of sin as a righteous substitute for men that could never acquit themselves of their sin.  Three days later God raised Him from the grave that I could live forever if I would simply trust Him.   He has forgiven my sin and I have cast myself into His mercy and salvation where He holds me forever in the palm of His hand.  He has called me that I might call others to have true, eternal life in Him.

My God is life and to be separated from Him is death.  Allah is no god.  He is not even dead because he has not existed.  He is false and his "words" in the Koran are a lie. Therefore, he can do nothing but lead to death.  I do not need to defend my God or demonstrate against something that is not real.  (I may need to protect my wife, children and country from people who do not agree with me, but that’s for another blog.)  My God has always been my confidence and the palm of his hand secures me from whatever evil may come my way.  I have no reason to burn books but every compulsion to give an answer to anyone who asks me for reason for the hope that is in me.  His name is Jesus…and He is THE Living God and the One to whom we will all give an answer.

Beck: An Inconsistent Mormon

For all the comment about Glenn Beck and his astoundingly successful “Restoring Honor” rally in Washington D.C. one glaring truth and inconsistency must be addressed.  This involves the inconsistent position of Glenn Beck’s religious organization, the Mormons, and his own ecumenical approach on the stage that day with the introduction of his Black-Robed Regiment.

Glenn Beck is a professing Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).  Though the group refers to itself as a Christian church, it is largely rejected, and rightly so, as a church with orthodox beliefs.  The Jesus of Mormonism is not the Jesus of the Bible and the historic Christian church.

The Mormon faith was brought to us by a man named Joseph Smith.  Smith tells us in his own writings that at the age of 14, after struggling to know which church to join, he received a vision from God in which he was told that no church on the face of the earth was true.  Joseph Smith wrote in the Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith History,

18 My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.

  19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”

  20 He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, mother inquired what the matter was. I replied, “Never mind, all is well—I am well enough off.” I then said to my mother, “I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true.” It seems as though the adversary was aware, at a very early period of my life, that I was destined to prove a disturber and an annoyer of his kingdom; else why should the powers of darkness combine against me? Why the opposition and persecution that arose against me, almost in my infancy?

As a Mormon, Beck has surely read this account and been made familiar with it.

Further, Brigham Young, the second prophet of the Mormons, succeeding Joseph Smith at his death, wrote, 

"Should you ask why we differ from other Christians, as they are called, it is simply because they are not Christians as the New Testament defines Christianity" (Journal of Discourses 10:230).

Orson Pratt, an early leader of the Mormons and an member of the original Quorum of Twelve Apostles, a select group of the highest leaders in the LDS organization,  proclaimed: 

"Both Catholics and Protestants are nothing less than the 'whore of Babylon' whom the Lord denounces by the mouth of John the Revelator as having corrupted all the earth by their fornications and wickedness. Any person who shall be so corrupt as to receive a holy ordinance of the Gospel from the ministers of any of these apostate churches will be sent down to hell with them, unless they repent" (The Seer, p. 255).

The foundation of Mormonism was Joseph Smith’s belief that all churches except his are apostate. 

The Mormons believe that Joseph Smith is a true prophet.  In fact, members of the church must publicly affirm that they believe in Jesus Christ and affirm their belief that Joseph Smith was a true prophet.

If the organization that Glenn Beck affirms as a church is true, then his public display of ecumenical zeal, commendations for the faith of those who do not share his faith, and praise for non-LDS churches around the nation should be an abomination to the Mormons.  If he truly rejects the position of the Mormon churches and the opinions of Joseph Smith, then he should not be a member of the Latter-Day Saints organization either. 

The display at Beck’s rally with the hundreds of clergy from around the United States as his backdrop would have been an abhorrent scene to Joseph Smith.  Yet Beck proposes this to be the reason for hope in America—the unity of Christians.  The only unity Joseph Smith ever called for in Christendom was to see all churches repent and become believers in Mormon doctrine.   The message of Beck would not have resonated with Joseph Smith.

Further complicating Beck’s cause is the unfulfilled prophecies of his prophet, Joseph Smith.  In his lifetime, Smith prophecied that Jesus Christ would return before he was 85 years old.  Smith never lived to be 85 and Christ did not return.  Among many other unfulfilled prophecies of Smith was the British involvement in the civil war.   In fact, he predicted that all nations would be involved in the war.  History teaches the British never intervened in the civil war and it did not precipitate the first world war.  

There are far more problems in all of this than this blog-entry has time to deal with, but it is clear from Scripture that the Mormons have obvious problems here.  The Mormons attest to the King James Version of the Bible so I will quote from it in regard to the prophets:  “When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously…”  Deuteronomy 18:22 

Joseph Smith was a false prophet, yet the Mormons continue to believe Smith and Beck with them.  Joseph Smith is a fraud and so is the religion he founded.  Beck’s speech and display leaves discerning minds with more questions than answers.

How can Beck believe that hope for change in America is found in faith and its churches, when the churches he espouses as our houses of hope are by his own faith founders’ accounts apostate and whores?  Does Beck not really believe what his religious organization and those it reveres teaches? 

Does Beck agree with his own church?

If he doesn’t agree with his own church, why would he stay with them?

Let me say that Beck is partly right.  America’s hope will spring forth from the churches which boldly and rightly preach from the Word of God and when we place our faith in God.  He is not right that the pulpit should be used for preaching right government.  Rather, the pulpit should be used for preaching the right Christ.

It may begin to sound like a Beck-bashing blog here, but it should not be so.  Like most conservative Mormons, I agree with Beck on a host of political and social issues.  Like most Mormons I know, Beck has life marked by charity and good works.   Beck has a lot of things right just not the most important thing.

He is just not right on this most important matter of faith.  He said it was all “about going to a church or mosque or synagogue—just so you believe.”  That is not a Christian position or a Mormon position either.  The Christian knows that salvation is found in faith rightly placed in Christ alone.  He is the only One that brings real hope and change.

I wish Beck would be true to whatever he believes.  If he really believes Mormonism, then live it completely, openly and consistently.  I will not deny him that right.  But if he does not agree with them and embraces the fundamental, orthodox doctrine of so many of the churches represented in the Black-Robed Regiment, then leave the LDS.

The church should be a beacon of hope for a lost and dying world, and its members should be sounding forth the Gospel loud and clear.  But not everything that calls itself a church is a church and Beck’s Black-Robed Regiment is confusing on many fronts.

The Curious Man: Glenn Beck

I enjoy the sport of national politics. Sometimes the news cycle gives us the equivalent of a junior-high volleyball game with little or no game to watch. Other days are like watching the most competitive of serious rugby games—an aggressive, even bloody sport.

In each sport there are stand-out and even controversial players. Whether it is a Dennis Rodman or Albert Pujols, accolades or condemnations fly at them and against them, and often times they receive both depending on the persuasions of the various speakers.

Perhaps the greatest lighting rod in American life today and its national conversation is Glenn Beck. Beck is a curiosity. He is a man tackling serious issues on radio, television, internet and print; leading rallies of upwards to half a million people. He is a comedian and entertainer. He is an emotional man with great passion and love for the nation. He has also marketed himself very, very well. His television show is one of the most boycotted amongst advertisers, yet his afternoon show on Fox News channel garners more viewers than all of his cable competitors in the same time-slot combined, and garners more viewers than most of Fox News Channel’s evening lineup. He is a master at so many things. But what is he?

He is certainly a media phenomenon. 300,000-500,000 people attended his recent rally at the Lincoln Memorial. Three million people view his show each day on Fox. He has a nationally syndicated radio show and six books in print. His following is sometimes nearly cult-like. He has been praised by Libertarians, Republicans, Independents and even some moderate Democrats. He has been indicted by the same. (The only ones who have never had anything good to say about him are the liberal-progressives.)

He is a nationalist and patriot that loves his country. Perhaps it would actually be more accurate so say that he loves the principles upon which this nation was founded and desires to see a return to them. He hates communism, socialism, and Marxism. He detests the attempts by some to make us into the type of nation U.S.S.R once was. Though he has essentially no formal post-secondary education, he is an ardent student of our nation’s founders. He is an intelligent man. Yet, in Beck’s mind, there is a conspiracy around every corner of American life. (Could it be?)

He is a powerful political figure. His friendship with Sarah Palin is enough to thrill many neo-cons, excite soccer moms and cause Democrats to start foaming at the mouth. The White House is scared of Beck. Beck’s investigations into Van Jones and other White House appointees have caused them to be wary of him. Indeed, the whole Shirley Sherrod debacle a few weeks ago exploded out of control when the White House got word that Beck was going to air her then “inflammatory remarks.” The irony is that Beck never aired it and the remarks were out of context. Nonetheless, Sherrod was wrongly fired that day, and Beck demonstrated his political influence over the most powerful office in the world without doing one thing.

Though he is not a religious leader, in his rally in Washington D.C., he took to the podium and called America back to God. He called Americans to prayer and charity—to faith in God. In doing so, he drew wide condemnation and praise. Many Christians around the country embraced his challenge. Evangelical leaders widely condemned his message of revival because of his beliefs as a Mormon and their belief that he lacks standing to issue such a challenge in a credible manner. Meanwhile, others praised him as God’s anointed prophet to the nation. Liberals decried his speech because he is not liberal and they hate everything he ever does or says. (Curiously, if the same message had been preached by an evangelical Christian, only a few Christian leaders would have argued about it.)

Whether you agree with Beck or not, he is a curious creature in American life. Some may argue he is simply an entertainer. Beck once described himself as a “rodeo clown.” Novelist Stephen King prefers to call him “Satan’s mentally challenged younger brother.”

Without a doubt, there is not a more interesting and curious man in public life today than Glenn Beck. Only the future will tell if he will be a great political leader far into the future or just another fad. But like him or not, he makes the game fun to watch.

My Desire for 2010

I'm not one to make New Year's Resolutions. I never keep them more than a couple of days when I do, and what I resolve to do is usually the same thing I resolve to do the next year as well. Resolutions end up being a frustrating cycle of personal disappointments which usually find their source in my unwillingness to find the proper personal discipline to follow through.

With that said, there are some things I desire for the new year. Some of these things will require work on my part. Other will require prayer on my part and the work of others. All of them will require my God to strengthen me and enable others. Whatever the case, my desires for 2010 are as follows:

1. I desire to walk more closely with my Lord, Jesus Christ. Of all things, this is most important. He came, lived, suffered, died and rose from the grave for me. I owe all that I am to Him and Him alone. He desires me to be conformed to His image and I desire that continued transformation. Let there be more of Him and less of me.

2. I desire to love my wife and children more than I do today, and to be to them a greater husband and father. I am undeserving of their love and affections and thank God for the blessing of each of them.

3. I desire to love my church with an even greater love. New Harvest is very dear to me and I desire to see it grow and blossom as the church draws closer to the One who is the very Foundation of the church.

4. Though it has never been so, I desire to see a world free of conflict and war. I acknowledge that this will only truly happen when Christ returns but I desire to see it. I desire to see His return!!

5. I desire to see a nation that is not afraid to fight the battles that are necessary, right and just when necessary. I desire to see us do the things necessary to ensure the freedom and liberty of my children so that they may share the in the blessings that my parents, grandparents and I have enjoyed. This will require radical changes in our current government and leadership.

6. I desire to see those in our public life that would further bankrupt our nation removed from office and replaced by those who desire true reform. We have bankrupted our country financially and morally. I desire to see a political reformation in this country that dramatically takes us back to nearer what the founder's intended us to be. Political reformation will never change the heart of society, only Christ does that and we must proclaim His word. But in this country, we are governed by the people and for the people. We must do our part to direct the affairs of this nation. We must be willing to do what is necessary with our prayers, our letters, our voices, our influence and our ballots. That is the system God has given us to work with in this nation.

But above all, I will endeavor to be reminded that God is sovereign over the affairs of men; that nothing escapes His sight or power. I will not allow that to be an excuse for complacency or apathy, but appreciate the mystery of the interplay between His sovereignty and the free-agency given to me. I will continue to trust Him with my salvation, my family, His church, this nation, and all the other affairs of this world as I do my best to be obedient to Him.

To God alone be all the glory in 2010!