An Economic Lesson

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer} FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

• S: Speaking to the people, he went on, "Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot." ... "Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that can't go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bankrobbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can bank on. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being. Luke 12:15,33-34 [MSG]
• O: Earthly treasures are fleeting, and not worth the effort to obtain and protect them.
• A: Economic crisis! Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Lehman, Washington Mutual -- the failure of the banking industry. The stock market plunging over 700 points in one day. Mortgage foreclosures. The news today is rife with tales of financial woe and bail out. Finger pointing and blame gaming are the popular gestures. But why? Because we have allowed ourselves as a nation to become so obsessed with material possessions that we're willing to borrow outside our means to buy what we cannot afford to impress our neighbors. But what does God say? Put your treasures in Heaven. The things of Earth -- no matter how nice, no matter how expensive -- will all pass away. They will be left behind -- along with the mounting debt that purchased them -- when we move on from this place. But the treasures of the heart and of the soul will live with us forever in Eternity.
• P: God, whatever the politicians cook up to bail us out of this economic downfall, help us to learn a valuable lesson about the true value of valuables.

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The Perfect Gift

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer} FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

• S: "Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in. If your little boy asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? If your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing—you're at least decent to your own children. And don't you think the Father who conceived you in love will give the Holy Spirit when you ask him?" Luke 11:10-13 [MSG]
• O: The gift of Salvation is ours for the asking.
• A: Why does God say that all we must do to be saved is ask? Simply believing in Christ as the Son of God who dies for our sins and inviting Him into our hearts is the ticket to Salvation. No tests involved. No preconditions. No cost to us whatsoever, because Jesus already paid the price for us. And it isn't a trick. When my son or daughter ask for something, like a special gift for their birthday, or something like that -- if it's in my power to give, I give it to them. I want my children to be happy and to know that their father loves them so much that he would do anything for them. Even die for them. Our Heavenly Father has that same kind of love for us. So much love that He came to Earth in the form of man and died for us, so that we might live forever. Salvation is the Father's gift to give, and all that we have to do is ask.
• P: Father, Thank You for the greatest gift, and for being the perfect model of the kind of father I should be to my children.

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Seize The Day

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer} FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

• S: Jesus said, "No procrastination. No backward looks. You can't put God's kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day." Luke 9:62 [MSG]
• O: There is no time to waste.
• A: "Seize the day." For there may be no tomorrow. The coming of the Lord is close at hand. It will happen at a time when it is least expected, with no warning. Every day that we live could be our last. Now is the time to accept the gift of salvation. Now is the time to stand up and follow God. Now is the time to share the Word to all the Earth. Now could be the only time we have left. Seize the day.
• P: Father, help me to spread Your Word in daily interactions with others. Show me the opportunities. Help me to seize the day, Lord.

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Change

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer} FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

• S: "If you work the words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who dug deep and laid the foundation of his house on bedrock. When the river burst its banks and crashed against the house, nothing could shake it; it was built to last. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a dumb carpenter who built a house but skipped the foundation. When the swollen river came crashing in, it collapsed like a house of cards. It was a total loss." Luke 6:48-49 [MSG]
• O: Merely reading the Bible is not enough. We must put God's Word to work in our lives.
• A: I make a serious attempt to Life Journal every day. To read the Bible and journal on what I've read. I look forward to going to church every Sunday. I produce a Christian music podcast. I want to be used as a tool by God. But do I really put the Word of God to work in my life? Do I let it change me? Do I come away from church, or my Life Journaling, with some life-changing epiphany? Sometimes I think I do, but do I really live out those changes? Not often enough.
• P: Father, change me. Use me for Your will. Move me, bend me, and shape me. Make the change real in my life.

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Proof In The Pudding

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer} FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

• S: "How can I account for the people of this generation? They're like spoiled children complaining to their parents, 'We wanted to skip rope and you were always too tired; we wanted to talk but you were always too busy.' John the Baptizer came fasting and you called him crazy. The Son of Man came feasting and you called him a lush. Opinion polls don't count for much, do they? The proof of the pudding is in the eating." Luke 7:31-35 [MSG]
• O: Words are cheap, meaningless. It is action that speaks volumes.
• A: The Bible is by no means a political manual. It is the divinely inspired Word of God. Inspired as it is, I find that I am frequently led to one passage or another with very timely importance. As we draw closer and closer to the day that Americans will select their next President, we will hear lots of talk. Through debates and campaign ads and the talking heads of the mainstream media. Lots of talk. Lots of worthless words. It is the actions of the candidates that we must weigh the most heavily. They can talk about change. They can talk about hope. They can talk about putting country first. It's when [if] they show us change, show us hope, show us how they put their country first that we must stand up and take notice. Talk is cheap. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
• P: Father, as we come down to the wire, help us to not be influenced by the political rhetoric. Help us to see through the politics and select the man that will best lead this country into the future.

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Unexpected Silence

It has been a bit quiet around here lately. I mean, I haven't put out a podcast since my 9/11 episode. There are several factors:

• Work has been very demanding, and my schedule has been so out of line with the norm that I'm not home as often as usual in the evenings to prepare a show.
• The intensity of the Presidential campaign has required more time to follow the stories and share my thoughts.
• I am in the process of reading an upcoming release from a new author for the purpose of writing a review (watch for the book -- and the review -- before the first of the year).
• I've been busy during much of my free time remodeling the kids' bathroom, which takes what little available time I would have for podcasting.

Have no fear, the show will return soon, bigger, badder, and better than ever. Your comments? Joe

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End Times Prophecy

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer} FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

• S: "'That's when Michael, the great angel-prince, champion of your people, will step in. It will be a time of trouble, the worst trouble the world has ever seen. But your people will be saved from the trouble, every last one found written in the Book. Many who have been long dead and buried will wake up, some to eternal life, others to eternal shame. "'Men and women who have lived wisely and well will shine brilliantly, like the cloudless, star-strewn night skies. And those who put others on the right path to life will glow like stars forever. "'This is a confidential report, Daniel, for your eyes and ears only. Keep it secret. Put the book under lock and key until the end. In the interim there is going to be a lot of frantic running around, trying to figure out what's going on.' "As I, Daniel, took all this in, two figures appeared, one standing on this bank of the river and one on the other bank. One of them asked a third man who was dressed in linen and who straddled the river, 'How long is this astonishing story to go on?' "The man dressed in linen, who straddled the river, raised both hands to the skies. I heard him solemnly swear by the Eternal One that it would be a time, two times, and half a time, that when the oppressor of the holy people was brought down the story would be complete. "I heard all this plainly enough, but I didn't understand it. So I asked, 'Master, can you explain this to me?' "'Go on about your business, Daniel,' he said. 'The message is confidential and under lock and key until the end, until things are about to be wrapped up. The populace will be washed clean and made like new. But the wicked will just keep on being wicked, without a clue about what is happening. Those who live wisely and well will understand what's going on.' "From the time that the daily worship is banished from the Temple and the obscene desecration is set up in its place, there will be 1,290 days. "Blessed are those who patiently make it through the 1,335 days. "And you? Go about your business without fretting or worrying. Relax. When it's all over, you will be on your feet to receive your reward." Daniel 12 [MSG]
• O: For 3-1/2 years the "oppressor" will rule the Earth during a time of Great Tribulation. ... when the oppressor of the holy people [is] brought down the story [will] be complete.
• A: Long before the birth of Jesus Christ, before His death and resurrection, before His ascention into Heaven, before the revelation to John, there was Daniel. The book of Daniel is so full of End Times prophecy that it is often read in conjunction with the book of Revelation. God revealed to Daniel many of the events that will take place when the Antichrist makes his rise to power. It seems that much of what God revealed to Daniel has already begun to come ture. It is only a matter of time before the full prophecy is fulfilled.
• P: Father, open our eyes that we might see the signs and choose wisely how we want to spend eternity.

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Baptism

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer} FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

• S: When crowds of people came out for baptism because it was the popular thing to do, John exploded: "Brood of snakes! What do you think you're doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to deflect God's judgment? It's your life that must change, not your skin. And don't think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as 'father.' Being a child of Abraham is neither here nor there—children of Abraham are a dime a dozen. God can make children from stones if he wants. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it's deadwood, it goes on the fire." Luke 3:7-9 [MSG]
• O: Baptism by water only is not the key to Salvation.
• A: What counts is your life. ... It is your life that must change, not your skin. The practice of immersion Baptism -- being dunked in water -- is a symbol. It is an act of confessing your belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, Savior, and Messiah. It is not by immersion (or any other form of) Baptism that we are saved. We are saved by believing in Jesus Christ. We are saved before we are Baptized. We are then (after receiving Salvation) Baptized for two reasons: 1) because Jesus did it and said that we should, too; 2) it is a tangible act of our confession of faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation without Baptism is still Salvation. Baptism without Salvation is like a bath without soap -- worthless.
• P: Father, Thank You for Your Son, for giving us Baptism as the symbol of our sins being washed away by the blood of Christ.

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The Gate of God

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer} FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

• S: Then the man brought me back to the outside gate complex of the Sanctuary that faces east. But it was shut. God spoke to me: "This gate is shut and it's to stay shut. No one is to go through it because God, the God of Israel, has gone through it. It stays shut. Only the prince, because he's the prince, may sit there to eat in the presence of God. He is to enter the gate complex through the porch and leave by the same way." Ezekiel 44:1-3 [MSG]
• O: As imperfect humans, we are not fit or worthy to follow in the footsteps of God or receive His gift of salvation.
• A: In describing the Temple, Ezekiel spoke of a gate to the Sanctuary that was closed -- off limits -- because God Himself had passed through the gate. As Creator of all things, God is omnipresent -- everywhere all the time -- and surely has no need to actually enter His Sanctuary through a gate. Unless it was God in the form of man entering through that gate. The book of Ezekiel is 65% prophecy -- containing the largest amount of predictive prophecy to appear in any book of the Bible. Much of the prophecy of Ezekiel has alredy been fulfilled, to include that of God walking through the Sanctuary gate. This very gate is believed to be the gate through which Jesus entered the Sanctuary on Palm Sunday. Jesus -- God in the form of man on Earth -- entered the Sanctuary through a gate that has since been shut, not to be used by man. As this passage is prophetic, it describes something that had not yet happened at the time of its writing. Prophecy in the Bible is often written as if it has already happened, which is the case in Ezekiel. In this case, Jesus later fulfilled this prophecy. It is believed that when Christ returns to rule his Millenial Kingdom on Earth, he will enter again through that very same gate.
• P: God, thank You for giving us a gift we could never deserve -- the gift of salvation through Your Son Jesus Christ.

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God In The Neighborhood

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer} FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

• S: I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: "Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They're his people, he's their God. He'll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good—tears gone, crying gone, pain gone—all the first order of things gone." Revelation 21:3-4 [MSG]
• O: God living in the neighborhood. Imagine!
• A: God's people live not only with the promise of His Son's return, but with the promise that God Himself will dwell among us. The thought of a world with our Creator living among us: no more death, no more pain, no more tears. All light, all the time, emitting from the Creator Himself. Not just God living within us, but God living with us. It is the one promise that every Christian longs to see fulfilled.
• P: Father, we are ready. The world has so much more to do to prepare, but Your people are ready for Your triumphant return.

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Singing His Praises

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer} FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

• S: I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. All you have made will praise you, O LORD; your saints will extol you. They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever. Psalm 145 [NIV]
• O: Are we vocally praising God as we should?
• A: Psalmist David writes of his generation and how they will praise the name of God and talk of his wondrous deeds and awesome power. Are we? The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. (vv 8-9) I don't recall the last time I told someone of God's great compassion -- of how He is forgiving of all our sins, patiently waiting for us to call on Him, waiting without anger. God has always been more patient with our imperfect race than we have ever deserved. When have I shared that with someone? The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. (vv 13b-14) God has carried me through some hard times in my life. He has seen me through the loss of loved ones, job loss, and financial hardship. He has always provided for me in the toughtest times. When have I shared that with someone? The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. (vv 15-16) In all ways, He has provided for me. For me and my family. When have I shared that with someone? The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. (vv 18-20) Could there be anything better than a God who hears our cries and saves us? A God who watches over us and protects us? A God who provides for us and fulfills our needs and desires? A God who protects us from evil by destroying the wicked? My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever. (vs 21)
• P: Father, help me to open my heart and my mouth and to sing Your praises to the world. Online, on paper, and in person, everywhere I go.

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E91: Children of Light

Today, as my wife and I may have finally put an end to our church shopping and found a new church home in Indianapolis, I wanted to share some of my notes from today's sermon at East 91st Street Christian Church, affectionately referred to as E91. The topic of the sermon was Children of Light, and the message was taken mostly from the fifth chapter of Ephesians.

• How do we live as children of light?
• -- Use time for a moral purpose -- you never get it back again.

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16 [NIV]

• -- Walk in wisdom.
• -- How can I use my time more effectively?
• -- For one week, write down how you use your time -- you will be amazed at how much time you waste.
• -- Redeem the time.
• -- Ask God to give you good things to do with your time instead.
• -- Don't waste the precious time that you have.
• -- Be filled with the Holy Spirit.
• -- You are filled with the Holy Spirit at the time that you accept Christ as your savior. In this context, being "filled" with the Holy Spirit means to let the Holy Spirit dominate your life.

I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. John 16:20 [NIV]

And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:52 [NIV]

• -- Make a choice.
• -- You must make a choice to be involved.
• -- This is a daily choice, not just a one time thing.
• -- Confess and yield.
• -- Deal with the things that might prevent the Holy Spirit from dominating you.
• -- Confessing means to tell God what he already knows. He wants to hear it.
• -- God wants us to yield, but we have to make that choice.
• -- Walk by faith.
• -- Actively participate in the fact that you've surrendered to God's will.
• -- Don't sit and wait for direction. God has given His direction in the Bible. If He wants to redirect you, He will interrupt you with new directions.
• -- The goal of a Christian is not to go to church, soak things up like a sponge, then live like it doesn't matter in his/her life.
• What are the results of being filled with the Holy Spirit?

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, Ephesians 5:19 [NIV]

• -- Speaking and singing.
• -- When the Holy Spirit is guiding you, you can't help but to share that in word and song.
• -- Not just words, but tangible activites: giving, being nice, doing.
• -- Giving thanks.

always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20 [NIV]

or although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:21 [NIV]

• -- Thank God for being in control of life regardless of the circumstances.
• -- Trust God, even when you don't get your way.
• -- We need to get past our desire to be comfortable and safe.
• -- Be submitting to all.

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:21 [NIV]

• -- Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. treat others as if they are more important than you are/
• When I do something wrong, I want grace and mercy. When you do something wrong, I want justice. Why?
• -- Lay down your life for others and love others.
• -- Risk your life to be sure that others have a chance to know Christ.
• When the prodigal son deserved justice, his father gave him love instead.

This sermon had me thinking about what things I do to waste my time. I'm sure there are several things I do on a daily basis that don't contribute to the Kingdom of God, don't expand myself intellectually or spiritually or emotionally, or don't help my family to grow. I'm going to be working on this over the next week as I take daily inventory of my time and see where I can trim away some of the fat. I'll share details in a future article.

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Joe

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God of Second Chances

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer} FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

• S: A third Angel followed, shouting, warning, "If anyone worships the Beast and its image and takes the mark on forehead or hand, that person will drink the wine of God's wrath, prepared unmixed in his chalice of anger, and suffer torment from fire and brimstone in the presence of Holy Angels, in the presence of the Lamb. Smoke from their torment will rise age after age. No respite for those who worship the Beast and its image, who take the mark of its name." Meanwhile, the saints stand passionately patient, keeping God's commands, staying faithful to Jesus. I heard a voice out of Heaven, "Write this: Blessed are those who die in the Master from now on; how blessed to die that way!" "Yes," says the Spirit, "and blessed rest from their hard, hard work. None of what they've done is wasted; God blesses them for it all in the end." I saw another Sign in Heaven, huge and breathtaking: seven Angels with seven disasters. These are the final disasters, the wrap-up of God's wrath. I saw something like a sea made of glass, the glass all shot through with fire. Carrying harps of God, triumphant over the Beast, its image, and the number of its name, the saved ones stood on the sea of glass. Revelation 14:9-13; 15:1-2 [MSG]
• O: The Beast will rule the earth during the time of Great Tribulation, but will be defeated in the end.
• A: Ever the forgiving Father, God gives us a second chance if we are too stubborn to choose His Salvation now. As the Beast rules the earth during the Great Tribulation, controlling all religion, trade, government, everything, those left behind will be forced to accept the mark of the Beast or face death. Those who accept the mark will be doomed to eternal death for rejecting God. Many whose eyes will be opened will hold out, reject the mark, and accept Christ as their Savior. They will be blessed in the end with eternal life. But why wait and suffer to take the second chance? Why not act now? And be with God during the Great Tribulation, safe from the torment of the Beast.
• P: Father, thank You for Your wonderful gift of Salvation, and for being so gracious as to even offer a second chance to those who reject You. You are truly an awesome God.

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The Coming of the Beast

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer} FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

• S: And the Dragon stood on the shore of the sea. I saw a Beast rising from the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads—on each horn a crown, and each head inscribed with a blasphemous name. The Beast I saw looked like a leopard with bear paws and a lion's mouth. The Dragon turned over its power to it, its throne and great authority. One of the Beast's heads looked as if it had been struck a deathblow, and then healed. The whole earth was agog, gaping at the Beast. They worshiped the Dragon who gave the Beast authority, and they worshiped the Beast, exclaiming, "There's never been anything like the Beast! No one would dare go to war with the Beast!" The Beast had a loud mouth, boastful and blasphemous. It could do anything it wanted for forty-two months. It yelled blasphemies against God, blasphemed his Name, blasphemed his Church, especially those already dwelling with God in Heaven. It was permitted to make war on God's holy people and conquer them. It held absolute sway over all tribes and peoples, tongues and races. Everyone on earth whose name was not written from the world's foundation in the slaughtered Lamb's Book of Life will worship the Beast. Are you listening to this? They've made their bed; now they must lie in it. Anyone marked for prison goes straight to prison; anyone pulling a sword goes down by the sword. Meanwhile, God's holy people passionately and faithfully stand their ground. I saw another Beast rising out of the ground. It had two horns like a lamb but sounded like a dragon when it spoke. It was a puppet of the first Beast, made earth and everyone in it worship the first Beast, which had been healed of its deathblow. This second Beast worked magical signs, dazzling people by making fire come down from Heaven. It used the magic it got from the Beast to dupe earth dwellers, getting them to make an image of the Beast that received the deathblow and lived. It was able to animate the image of the Beast so that it talked, and then arrange that anyone not worshiping the Beast would be killed. It forced all people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to have a mark on the right hand or forehead. Without the mark of the name of the Beast or the number of its name, it was impossible to buy or sell anything. Solve a riddle: Put your heads together and figure out the meaning of the number of the Beast. It's a human number: 666. Revelation 13 [MSG]
• O: The Beast will wage war on the inhabitants of Earth. His False Prophet will use magic he gets from the Beast to dupe them. They will worship the image of the Beast.
• A: Our current political climate is intense. Presidential elections always create quite a stir, but it seems especially so this time around. Many Bible scholars predict that we are now in the "last days," the times leading up to the Second Coming of Christ and the Great Tribulation. My wife and I had a political discussion as we drove home from church yesterday. Interestingly enough, this discussion seemed to cross the divide between politics and religion. We spoke of the coming of the Beast -- the Antichrist. We spoke of the Bible prophecies of this event. We spoke of the current political scene in America. We have two Presidential candidates in America who have a viable chance of winning the election in November. One candidate who has given his entire life to the service of his country. Another candidate who has only recently risen to national prominence. One candidate whose rallies bring chants of "USA! USA!" The second candidate whose rallies bring chants of his name, over and over and over. One candidate who has a loyal following of similarly-minded people. The second candidate who is surrounded by the masses of the disillusioned looking for a savior, a candidate whose image is plastered on tee-shirts and signs everywhere you look, emblazoned with promises of hope and change. One candidate who is a national hero. The other candidate who is more like a rock star. I'm not implying that either of these two candidates could be the up-and-coming Antichrist. I'm not saying that the False Prophet is among us. Biblical prophecy of the end times makes no mention of the United States, nor of any country that appears to be the U.S. Could that be because the U.S. will have seen it's demise before the coming of the Beast? A patriotic America led by a Conservative Christian who believes in Jesus Christ as his Savior might conceivably take a stance in opposition to the Beast. It stands to reason that prophecy might require the elimination of that opposing American force before the rise of the Antichrist. My wife and I spoke of these things, and how today's political landscape could to some appear to be the beginning of the end. I'm no doomsayer. I'm not afraid of the Antichrist, because I've been saved by the blood of Christ. But it sure does make for some interesting discussion.
• P: Father, as we draw one day closer every day to the return of the Messiah and the rise of the Antichrist, help us to weigh carefully and to choose wisely, both as we choose our next President and -- hopefully -- as we choose Your Son as our Savior.

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Satan Defeated

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer}
FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

• S: War broke out in Heaven. Michael and his Angels fought the Dragon. The Dragon and his Angels fought back, but were no match for Michael. They were cleared out of Heaven, not a sign of them left. The great Dragon—ancient Serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, the one who led the whole earth astray—thrown out, and all his Angels thrown out with him, thrown down to earth. Then I heard a strong voice out of Heaven saying, Salvation and power are established! Kingdom of our God, authority of his Messiah! The Accuser of our brothers and sisters thrown out, who accused them day and night before God. They defeated him through the blood of the Lamb and the bold word of their witness. They weren't in love with themselves; they were willing to die for Christ. So rejoice, O Heavens, and all who live there, but doom to earth and sea, For the Devil's come down on you with both feet; he's had a great fall; He's wild and raging with anger; he hasn't much time and he knows it. Revelation 12:7-12 [MSG]
  
• O: In the end times Satan will be set loose to return to Heaven, where he will again be defeated.
  
• A: Evil has no place in this world. God did not design the world for evil, and did not design us for an evil world. When Lucifer was an angel, he coveted the position of the Most High God and was cast from Heaven, with all of those angels who chose to follow him instead of God. Lucifer tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, introducing evil into the world. In the end times, all hell will break loose, literally. Satan will return to Heaven with his army of angels to be defeated by the archangel Michael and a host of Heavenly angels. Satan and his minions will  return to earth to wreak doom and destruction upon those left behind. But as Satan has always been doomed to defeat, so he will again face defeat when Christ sets up His Kingdom on earth.
  
• P: Father, protect us from the evil one, as we strive to do Your will.
  

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One Way

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer} FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

• S: The remaining men and women who weren't killed by these weapons went on their merry way—didn't change their way of life, didn't quit worshiping demons, didn't quit centering their lives around lumps of gold and silver and brass, hunks of stone and wood that couldn't see or hear or move. There wasn't a sign of a change of heart. They plunged right on in their murderous, occult, promiscuous, and thieving ways. Revelation 9:20-21 [MSG]
• O: Despite all of the signs and warnings from God, the human race continues full throttle on a course of sin and death.
• A: We are nearing the end of times. Every day just one day closer to the Glorious Appearing of Jesus Christ, returning to collect His faithful. And every day the world continues on the path of sin that started with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. We bury ourselves deeper and deeper into promiscuity, idolatry, adultery, murder, thievery, lies, and blasphemy. We blindly and deafly disregard the warnings and prophecies of what such behavior will bring for us and continue on our paths of self-destruction. Though it is prophesied and will come a day when those left behind reap the full wrath of God for their sinful ways (and failure to turn to Him), it's not too late to be on the right side. Just as God has warned us of the wages of sin, He has also promised us a chance at eternal life. This is how much God loved the world: He gave His Son, His one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in Him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending His Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in Him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust Him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to Him. John 3:16-18 [MSG] There is only One Way to spend eternity with a loving God and avoid the wrath of an angry God. The choice is ours to make.
• P: Father, as I see the prophecies of the end times played out in my own lifetime, I rejoice in the Salvation You gave me through Your Son Jesus Christ. Though I know that many will be left behind for a time of Great Tribulation, use me as You will to reduce that number and grow the Kingdom.

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Choices

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer} FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.

• Scripture: Revelation 21; Genesis 2; Jonah 4
• Following are notes from the sermon during my recent visit to Common Ground Christian Church in Indianapolis.
• Do we allow the choices we make to be consistent with the Creator, or with humanity?
• Creation is moving in one direction, and humanity is moving in the opposite direction. Chaos and frustration is the result.
• We were not created to live outside of Eden.
• We can choose to live in Eden, or east of Eden. What will we choose?
• When we interact with others, do we choose to present them with Heaven or Hell? We are showing them an example of one or the other in our actions.
• Our choices: are they consistent with God, or consistent with "the pattern of me?"
• Do we put more stock in the temporary, or in the eternal?
• Ask yourself: What prevents me from moving back toward Eden? What do I believe in so strongly that it prevents me from moving toward Eden? What compels me to more toward Eden?
• What we are is the result of a series of choices that we make that have formed us into what we've become. We don't just wake up one day and say, "I think I'll....." Every decision we make is just one more decision built upon and affected by a series of past decisions.

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