Signs of the times are everywhere

That’s a line from a Gospel song I used to play for a friend to sing many years ago.  This week it seems more true than ever.  A meteor hit northern Canada yesterday.  There were two, maybe more than two, earthquakes in Indonesia / Malaysia this week.  Hail in Europe, blizzards in the US, fires gobbling up California.  Of course, natural disasters have been going on for centuries and with the advent of the internet we just hear about them almost as soon as they happen now.

Still, every time I see something particularly unusual – like the meteor – I think about what Jesus said would happen in the last days, in Luke 21:10-11, “Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; And great earthquakes shall be in different places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.”

The scientists are on the hunt to find whatever chunks are left of the meteor. I hope it was a solitary one this time, and they won’t find flaming chunks landing around them as they hunt.

God’s call

This following paragraph was in a Wall Street Journal article online the other day. When we get discouraged because we don’t see the results we want, it helps to remember this…

Mother Teresa was asked at the end of her life whether she was discouraged because after decades of caring for the dying and destitute in Calcutta little seemed to have changed. She replied, “No. God doesn’t call me to be successful. God calls me to be faithful.”

That you may believe…

As part of my volunteer work I receive emails from all parts of the world every week –  some happy, some sad, some just practical info.  Here’s a recent news item from one of those areas.

“Albania:  Team members Matias and Su arrived at the evangelistic service not sure what to expect. Church members had invited non-Christian friends and neighbours and offered a barbecue afterwards. The service moved outside after 50 people crammed in to a space for 20. A woman known to be partially deaf had her hearing fully restored, and a 10-year-old boy with a severe speech impediment was speaking some words clearly for the first time. Pray that the guests will reflect on the miracles they witnessed, and that the Holy Spirit will lead them to experience God Himself.”

John 20:30-31 says, “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples which are not written in this book.  But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”  (NIV) He’s still doing those miracles!

Sheep clothing

I listened to a few minutes of a CNN program this afternoon.  A few minutes was all I could stomach.  Four talking heads sat around a table asking, “Where is the Religious Right?” (in this Presidential election.)

They discussed the self-proclaimed faith of John McCain and Barak Obama, first denouncing an email that went around months ago stating that Obama was a Muslim, and why that was unfair and untrue.

He was born a Muslim, given a Muslim name, and that was enough to get that email going the rounds, right or wrong.  But he claims he is a Christian and the panel seemed to think everyone should take his word for it. “Judge not,” you know.

People forget that Jesus also said, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgments.”  (John 7:24)

In Matthew 7, Jesus explained one way to do that.  “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing… you shall know them by their fruits.” (Matt. 7:15-16)

There is plenty of fruit to judge in both these men’s lives and records.  I don’t vote according to who appeals to my pocketbook.  I vote according to moral principles and particularly protection of the weakest among us. I vote after I do a thorough inspection of the fruit.

Too many voters seem to be falling for a wolf in sheep’s clothing this election. They don’t take the time and effort to check the records, think prayerfully about what they learn and then decide.

As I continue to watch and pray, my fervent prayer is that God will have mercy on America!