Chapel Service

Douglas County Speedway

Roseburg, OR

“Things Are Changing Today!” – Part 1

 

Bob Butcher

I have a huge concern happening in America these days and it fits into this category:

“ In those days when there was no king or judges hand-picked by God governing and leading the people in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.” Judges 21:25 (GBB)

These chapters of Judges depict a people whose religion is reduced to mere tradition, and who profess one thing but then do another. Having mostly forgotten all about the Lord’s ways out of neglect, the Israelites have become a law unto themselves. So we’re not talking about people who chose to do wrong here. They wanted to do right actually, but without a firm foundation in scripture they said, “I want to do right, but I will decide what’s right.”

No one has a right to decide what is good or evil. No preacher, no church, no young person, or any group or person has a right to decide for themselves what is good and evil. Only God has a right to decide what’s good and evil.

The consequences are deadly. “There is a way that seems right to a person, but in the end it is the way that leads to death.”  Proverb 14:12 (GBB)

 “I, God, search the heart and examine the mind.  I get to the heart of the human.  I get to the root of things and I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be.”  Jeremiah 17:10  (GBB)

So, therefore:

‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your choices choose to follow His laws and ways, and He will make your paths straight. So don’t be wise in your own eyes; but fear the Lord and turn away from evil.”  Proverb 3:5-7 (GBB)

Why do I say this?  It’s simple.  I am sick and tired of history being rewritten to benefit some cause here in America.  Then I look around and observe the social media of today plus the news media and other forms of news.

  • Social media leads us to believe what people say about us personally whether true or not, and we take it to heart. As humans we always think the worst about ourselves when it’s posted.
  • Social media skews our beliefs of what is true or false and how we should think and believe about any subject in the news from around the world.
  • In our country especially, few news media report the facts anymore, but instead report with a political, social, religious, or cultural bias that they seek to promote as truth or the way that is right. It’s the same whether newspapers, magazines, TV, books, and blogs or almost anything today including those controversial high school and college speakers, …which really frosts me personally!  Why do we subject our youngsters without much life experience to weigh out truth versus lunacy?

So with all this against us today how do we weather the onslaught and keep ourselves on a course of truth so we can line up with God’s Word of Truth?

Fortunately, we only have ONE source to worry about and that is God’s Word …the Bible.

First, today we have the huge privilege of not just having a large Bible that we must carry around with us.  There is a wealth of apps, internet websites, on small, easily carried devices like cell phones, IPads, IPods, Tablets, and Laptops  to learn and gain God’s truth and way of life from the Bible

Is your time tight?  That is why Kathy and I hand out our MRO little devotional from “Our Daily Bread” to you.  It covers three months at a time.  Every day there is a tiny page that takes two minutes or less to read and contemplate God’s truth on all kinds of subjects every day. That’s why I call it my “Pitstop for Life.”

Or, take the few minutes and come to Chapel at the track and I guarantee I will tell it like it is!

Then take an opportunity to discuss a subject or ask questions of your Pastor at your local church or talk to Kathy or me.  Maybe you have been chewing upon something you heard or learned.  We’re here to listen!

 

Maybe, the most important thing I can remind you about is that we ALL must protect our kids and grandkids today so they do not become subject to believing a lie that twists truth enough to look good but will ultimately cost their life or their joy and peace.  But, FIRST, …WE, OURSELVES must know the Truth that lines up with God’s Word of Truth!  Only then we can be like the late Paul Harvey and tell our kids:  “and now let me tell you the rest of the story” which my daughters grew up with and my grandkids are today.