Book Review

The Faith of Ronald Reagan

By Mary Beth Brown

I have always had the deepest admiration for President Ronald Reagan. After reading this book, my admiration has turned into a simple, heart-felt prayer, “God, raise up another one.”

Ironically, the day of his birth sounded like a page out of a book of folk lore. It was right in the middle of one of the worst blizzards Tampico, Illinois had ever seen, February 6, 1911. His father, Jack, had to trudge through the snow to find a mid-wife to deliver him. The town doctor was already out on a call. When the hefty 10 pounder made his entrance into the world, his father remarked, “He looks like a fat little Dutchman. But, who knows, he might grow up to be president someday.”

As you read the book, you will find out that his father was no modern day prophet of God. But, what is made perfectly clear is that Ronald Reagan had a deep and abiding faith that God had a purpose for everyone. That faith had been taught to him by his mother, Nelle. By her example, he learned how to trust God and how to talk to Him as if he had a direct connection. The greatest testimonies to that fact are in the interviews with his children that the author recorded in this book. Faith in God can be faked around everyone but your children. What his children said about him was what touched my heart the most.

The book begins with the attempted assassination of President Reagan in 1983. As she re-tells the events of that day, you see the personal side of a great man that newspapers and reporters never tell you. I will share this one with you. White House Press Secretary Jim Brady had been hit in the head with a bullet meant for the President. As an unconscious Jim Brady was being wheeled into surgery, President Reagan prayed for him. However, this great man said that it was wrong for him to pray for Jim, the others and himself to be healed and have hatred for his attacker. So, he spent some time praying that God would help his attacker deal with the demons that caused him to attack them. What a man.

In this book, you get a chance to walk with him through the Great Depression, the death of his child, the war, the Challenger disaster and many other challenges to his faith. But, by the end of the book you will pray like I do, “God, raise up another one.”

A copy of this book was furnished to me in exchange for this review.

God, It Doesn't Look Like You Know What You're Doing

How many times has that question popped up into your heart?  How many times have you said that to God?  It's OK.  God's a big God and He can handle it.  There are times and events in my life that I wish He had of consulted with me about.  But, every time I mention it to Him, He comes back to me with this "I'm God and you're not" stuff so I just hang in there until He's gets through.  Which, by the way, He doesn't tell you when He's through.  I would like to tell Him when to stop some of the things that I'm going through and get on with the blessings but He comes back with "My ways are higher than your ways" stuff and I just say, "Yeah, whatever."  What else are you going to do?

Let's take a look at the patriarch Jacob.  It was prophesied at his birth that the birthright would be his and not Esau's.  Well, why did God let Jacob take it by trickery?  After all, Jacob had to run away from the family and be virtually penniless for the next fourteen years.  One of the things you have to realize is that Jacob was so full of himself that God had to play second fiddle in his life until God finally had to take him down a peg or two (Gen 32). 
Was he really that smart?  He runs away to his Uncle Laban's house and falls in love with his cousin Rachel.  She's a beauty and he has just got to have her.  He has no money but bargains with Uncle Laban to work for him for seven years just to marry Rachel.  Where did he live?  Eat?  Get clothes?  From Uncle Laban of course.  Uncle Laban began to let real smart Jacob tie a real strong noose around his own neck.  Jacob, you've really got it all together, don't you?  But, let's not be too harsh on Jacob because me and you haven't been the brightest bulbs on the Christmas tree sometimes either.
Laban had smart Jacob and he knew it.  Seven years went by and Laban got Jacob so schnockered at the wedding that he couldn't tell the difference between Rachel and Leah until he sobered up the next morning.  Then, when Jacob protested, Laban showed him what a trickster was all about.  While Jacob was still reeling with a hangover, Laban talked him into seven more years of free labor to marry Rachel for real.
God, what are you doing?  Here's Mr. Birthright Guy with no money, no house but two wives.  What do you think that second seven years of FREE labor did to Jacob?  It put some grit in his gut and a ramrod in his backbone.  I bet his mind and heart began to say to God, "You must have a way out of this.  I'll be the man if You will show me Your plan."
Now, let's look at Laban for a moment.  He's the bad guy in this story.  He treated God's man in a despicable way, didn't he?  Well, Jacob did have his stupid moments but then me and you have had ours, too.  Don't forget.  God has had His work cut out for Him with the dumb stuff me and you have pulled off.  OK, back to the story.  After the first seven free years, Laban's house began to be filled with his grandchildren.  Leah eventually had six.  Her servant girl had two for Jacob.  Rachel's servant girl had two for Jacob.  Jacob had no income, so who was footing the bill for all of these?  You guessed it.  Uncle Laban.  God has a unique way of getting back at those who choose to cheat His children.  Remember that.
After the second seven years, Uncle Laban was GLAD to make a money agreement with Jacob just to get him out of the house and out of his pocketbook.  But, it didn't work like he thought.  Jacob was just as glad to get out.  After fourteen years of not having any money and having to bow down to his tricky Uncle, he was ready to allow the birthright to come into play.  God had His way of making Jacob appreciate the value of the birthright that had been handed down from his grandfather Abraham.  During the next six years, Jacob trusted God and became richer than ALL of Laban's sons.  Jacob was forced out of Laban's sight by the blessing of God.  What a way to go.  Jacob came in poor but left richer than Esau or Laban.
Let's not forget Leah.  She was not Jacob's favorite.  She always played second wife.  She was not as pretty as Rachel and had to live with that all of her life.  However, Leah was God's choice.  If Jacob had stayed in his father Isaac's home, Isaac would have probably sent for ONE wife.  That would have probably been Rachel.  However, Rachel was never able to have children very well.  It was years before she bore Joseph and she died while giving birth to Benjamin.   Leah, who was always second place as far as man could see, was the mother God chose to bring six of the twelve tribes of Israel into being.  Although, she was never the beauty that everyone saw Rachel to be, Leah was the beauty that God saw.  She was the mother that brought forth the tribe of Levi  whom GOD CHOSE to be the priests over His people.  And, she was the mother that brought for the tribe of Judah, from whom GOD CHOSE to bring the kings of His people.  That included the King of King, Christ Jesus.
God, indeed, had a plan that, maybe, only He could see.  He probably was the only One that knew what He was doing.  But, believe me, He did it well.  Have faith in God.

Why Doesn't God Show Up?

Have you ever wondered that?  You preach and preach and sing and sing and go to church and go to church and God doesn't honor a thing that you do.  He's no where to be found or He's just a trickle of life instead of a mighty rushing wind.  Let me share this deep, dark secret with you.  Are you ready?  No, you're not.  Get ready and then come back.  If what I am about to tell you doesn't sink in, there's no use you reading any further.  Go somewhere else and come back until you get the gist of what I am about to say. 

GOD WILL SHOW UP WHERE YOU ARE TO THE DEGREE THAT YOU SHOW UP WHERE HE IS.

I have been talking in the past few blogs about the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000.  I had wanted to write to you, today, about the overflow, the abundance that was produced by the Son of God.  However, I missed the most important part of the miracle.  Jesus did not show up in their synagogues or at their very command.  The people were busy following HIM.  They were seeking HIM.  They yearned to be where HE was.  They left the comfort of their homes, stopped what they were doing and went out and found HIM. 
Search and search and search as long as you want and you will never find in the Word of God where ANY follower of God came to Him and asked Him, "Lord, teach me to preach."  Yet, we have thousands upon thousands of seminaries attempting to do just that.  You will never find anyone coming to Jesus and asking, "Lord, teach me to lead worship."  Yet, many churches today will not even consider you a worship leader unless you have been to some special training school or belong to the "click" in their church.  Please quite shouting so loud.  I know I'm preaching real good right now.

What you will find that they did ask Jesus was this, "Lord, teach us to pray."  Luke 11:1.  You see, the disciples saw Jesus praying and realized that prayer brought him the power of God.  I hate to do you know what on your parade but get a load of this divine revelation.  Jesus was never ordained by the Jewish priests.  He never went to seminary.  He did go to a few cemetaries and raised the dead.  The theology He got was from the study that He gave to "knee-ology."  The disciples saw that and realized that prayer and a strong relationship with the Father was what brought the power that Jesus operated in.

Jesus said this in Matthew 6:6-But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.   Go where God is.  Quit waiting for Him to come to you.  Get by yourself and take off that plastic mask called religion.  Get real with God.  AND STAY THERE until you know that you know that you know that you and God have gotten it together.  Get real with Him when nobody is around to see how pious and holy you are.  Show up with God in the secret place and He will show up WITH you in the open.

The prayer closet.  Why isn't it a requirement to get a graduate degree in prayer?  Must we ONLY value a man or a woman if they bring a piece of paper that says they have completed four years of study?  My suggestion is to get alone with God for as long as it takes and allow HIM to show up in your life.  Then, like the five loaves and two fishes cry out "Lord, bless me, break me and send me out to feed Your sheep."

Then, do we dare allow God to change us to what He really called us to do.  Some of you need to step out of that pulpit and let someone with His presence in.  Some of you need to stop trying to lead worship because He really called you to play and instrument or teach Sunday School.  EW!  That's a bummer.  But, you make the call.  As for me, I stepped down a long time ago and said, "God, bless me, break me and put me where you need me to be."  But it started years ago getting up at 4:30 am to be with Him at His place------the prayer closet.

And The Word was God

No doubt you will recognize that portion of scripture from John 1:1.  Let's focus on that today.  God and His Word are the same.  The Word is God and God is His Word.  You will not separate God from His Word.  Not "one jot or one tittle" of His Word is unimportant to Him.  Every Word that comes out of His mouth has a purpose.  AND, He has a plan for His Word before He ever speaks it.  Think about that sentence for a minute.  BEFORE He spoke ANY Word, He had a plan IN HIS HEART.  BEFORE He spoke ANY Word, He looked at HIS vast resources, He looked at HIS vast army of angels and double checked His heart before He said to Himself, "I am well able to accomplish this."  My goodness, I want to get up and shout right now but I've got a wife and children still asleep and I need to finish this so I won't be late for work.
God spoke to His best friend Abraham and told him his promised children would be slaves to a foreign nation.  Then, He said "AND" I will judge that nation , "AND" they will come out rich. (Gen 15:14)  Those folks went through some times that caused them many heartaches and tears, BUT HIS WORD WAS STILL GOD.  Circumstances that he could not understand caused Moses to run to the backside of the desert for 40 years, BUT HIS WORD WAS STILL GOD.  When Moses came back to bring the children of Israel out of bondage, a lot of God's people did not believe Moses.  BUT HIS WORD WAS STILL GOD, and Moses kept on believing and being obedient.  God had a plan for His Word.  Pharaoh wasn't too excited about Moses' message, either.  BUT HIS WORD WAS STILL GOD, and God did not care what Pharaoh thought.  Pharaoh made it rougher on God's people, BUT HIS WORD WAS STILL GOD.  After the people believed, after Moses performed the first couple of miracles it still didn't LOOK LIKE it was ever going to happen.  Things did not get better, they got worse.  BUT HIS WORD WAS STILL GOD.
Daddy's perk up your ears and your hearts.  I'm fixing to say something that should not only convict you but cause you GREAT hope.  Whether the majority of the Hebrews believed it or not did not deter the Almighty God from performing His Word.  Five hundred years previous to the actual event, THE FATHER of those millions of slaves "believed in the Lord and He counted it to him for righteousness" (Gen 15:6).  Daddy Abraham's faith in what God told him OBLIGATED God to overlook ALL the unbelief and ALL the horrible circumstances that surrounded the Hebrew children at that time.  God was obligated, NOT ONLY BY HIS WORD but, also by the fact that Abraham "died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them," (Heb 11:13).  Did any of you catch that?  Abraham saw them afar off.  He believed the Word of God so much that He actually SAW in his heart his children marching out of bondage with great wealth.  Don't think so, huh?  Take a gander at the words of Jesus in John 8:56--Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw [it], and was glad.
Abraham had it settled in his heart that God was His Word and His Word was God concerning his children.  C'mon Daddies.  Do something.  Be da man about the Word of God.  Get somewhere by yourself, get the schmuck out of your life and BELIEVE THE WORD of God about your children and their future Dt 28:1,4.  HIS WORD IS STILL GOD no matter what it looks like and no matter who thinks they are in charge of the United States.  God will always be His Word, and His Word will always be GOD.  Now, shout for a while and pass this on.

He is Who He says He is.

Let's talk about John 6:8-14.  Let's talk especially about verse 14.  This verse says that the men saw something that made them realize the hand of God in Jesus' life.  If you will remember, this is where Jesus fed the 5,000.
First of all, everybody there saw a great need.  Everybody there agreed that something needed to be done.  Philip answered with man's limitation, "Two hundred penny worth is not enough."  To prove to the world that Jesus is Who He says He is, we must, FIRST, admit to ourselves AND admit to Him that we do not know how to do it.  If you can figure out the answer, yourself, the unbelievers will say, "I could have figured out a better plan than that."  Our prayer SHOULD BE----"God, I need an answer bigger than myself.  I need YOUR answer."
That prayer will bring us to the second point.  There was a little boy, who upon hearing that Jesus had a need, responded by giving all that he had.  Please, please, please, get this point.  Jesus said that we could not enter into the kingdom of heaven unless we become like a little child.  This little boy had no idea of how enormous the problem was.  He certainly did not know what Philip knew.  How many children have said, "Mommy, I know how to buy something to eat, just write a check for it."  They've seen you do it time and time again.  They don't stop to think that money has to be put in the bank.  All this starry-eyed little boy knew was that Jesus had a need and he had something to give.
That brings us to the third point.  He gave EVERYTHING he had and turned it ALL over to Jesus.  Sometimes we fail to give our lives, or finances or our prayer to Jesus because WE THINK that it won't be enough.  In our finite minds, WE DECLARE that whatever we have is not enough to meet the need so, why bother.  The miracle to this story lies in this secret.  Verse 6 tells us that Jesus already had a plan before He ever asked the question to Philip.  While Philip was hem-hawing about trying to come up with a plan, the little boy got all excited.  (Can  you tell where this is going?)  This little boy got so-o-o-o-o-o excited about his five loaves and two fishes that he wanted to give them to Jesus without any thought of keeping anything for himself.  He got so excited, he had to run up to Andrew, pull on his robe, get his attention and tell Andrew that he, the little boy, had an answer.  The insurmountable details did not bother him.  He was EXCITED about what he had to give.  He was EXCITED that he could give something to Jesus.  Now the question.  When was the last time that we were excited about giving something, even something small, to Jesus?  There's a key of faith there, friends.  This little child was entering the kingdom of heaven by giving his all, and he was excited.
The fourth point.  He NEVER told Jesus what to do with it.  How many times have we TOLD Jesus how to do something.  REMEMBER, before, He ever lets us see the problem, He ALREADY has it worked out.  That's a kingdom key, right there.  Grown-ups can't see it.  Children can.  I can see his bright and cheerful smile.  Maybe he's jumping up and down as Jesus accepts his gift.  With joy he watches Jesus carry HIS lunch to a central location and listens as Jesus (still holding his lunch) begins to give orders.  Then, with his mouth wide open and his imagination running wild, he watches Jesus bless and break the bread (according to Mark 6) over and over and over and over and over and over again and again and again.  He never tried to tell Jesus what to do.  When he let go of his lunch, his hands were free to clap and wave around.  His hands were also empty enough to receive the abundant blessing.  Five small loaves and two small fishes might have been just barely enough to get him back to the house.  Now that he gave it all to Jesus with great joy, he enjoyed all that he wanted and had plenty left over. 
The fifth point.  The little boy took NONE of the honor for himself.  All  the glory went to Jesus.  Folks, people have seen enough of me and you.  People that are hurting and confused about life, need to see a real answer.  Real answers come when God's people who are called by His name, humble themselves and pray---"God, I give you my whole life.  Break me anyway you want to, but bless my life in such a way that they can see YOU.  Help them to be able to see that You are Who You say You are."
Pass this on.

AN ISSUE OF A GOD KIND--The Church is Upside Down and Backwards

Before you scold me by saying, "But, Henry, I thought you were going to use AN ISSUE OF A GOD KIND to deal with the latest news headlines."  Let me say it this way.  The headlines in today's news is a direct result of this issue---THE CHURCH IS UPSIDE DOWN AND BACKWARDS. 
This past Sunday, our Pastor, Doug Patterson, at Islands Community Church, passed out a book that he wanted to church to read.  It is entitled "A 12-Month Guide to BETTER PRAYER."  It has 12 chapters and he suggested that we read at least one chapter per month.  I started last night and it will probably take me one month to fully digest the first chapter, "Prayer-It's Possibilities," by E. M. Bounds.  Wow!  Is it ever a kicker.  Find it at http://www.barbourbooks.com/.  Go to the tab that says "Best Sellers" and find it for $1.99. 
While reading this first chapter something dawned on me.  Jesus put more emphasis on prayer than on preaching and singing.  NEVER, NEVER, NEVER did He ever give as much importance to ANYTHING ELSE as He did prayer.  He said "whatever" you ask and He said "anything" you ask in His name would be granted.  He never put that much emphasis on "whatever" you preach or "anything" you sing.  Yet, how many churches have broken apart because of the way somebody preached?  Here lately, how many churches have been torn apart because half of the congregation did not like the style of worship music that was being done?  I have NEVER heard of a single congregation torn apart because of too much prayer, too long of a prayer, or prayer of a different kind.  Why?  Because WE the CHURCH--His body (?)--put more emphasis on preaching and singing.  Yet, Jesus didn't.
Case in point.  How many of you have asked or have been asked, "Please come to our church.  Our preacher preaches real good."  Or, "Please come to our church.  Our worship team is out of sight."  I dare say NOBODY has ever stated, "WOW!  You should come to our church.  Our prayer service will knock your socks off."  WE have misplaced our priorities.  Jesus never said, "Preach in My name and......."  He also did not say "Sing in My name and......"  But, I do find an abundance of "Ask in my name and......."
Of course, this will be continued in the next several blogs.  Let me close by saying that the church has missed the most powerful part of a Christian's heritage by not praying.  Our churches have INDEED been turned upside down and backwards.  We have been rendered powerLESS instead of powerFUL because we continue to follow hard after the way that other churches have been been rendered powerless.
Mary, Queen of Scots, said this, "I fear the prayers of John Knox more than all the assembled armies of Europe."  Dear God.  If only this could be heard by the Body of Christ today.  If the church would put the emphasis on prayer that Jesus did, Russia, North Korea and Iran would be coming to the church instead of the lame United States government and start begging for us to stop.....our.......PRAYING.

Does anyone have the guts or grace to pass this on?  How about any comment.  Let's hear your views.  If you are not afraid to give them, I am not afraid to print them.

What is Jesus Doing?

John 6:1-2--After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is [the sea] of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

One of the first points I want to make today is, this great multitude just hung around where Jesus hung around. They walked with Him where ever He went. They had seen great things and wanted to see more great things. I believe every Christian longs to see the power of God unleashed and poured out abundantly. In the place where God has put me to work for Him, I don't see a whole lot of His outpouring. Where you are walking with God right now, you might not be either. BUT, that does not mean He is not working in a miraculous way. Hearing testimonies of His saving and healing power encourage us. I started this blog to be an encouragement. I am looking for links to put in the side bar that will lead to encouraging sites and testimonies so we can see more of His power. I don't know about you, but I want to see Jesus lifted higher than ever before.
John 6:5-6--When Jesus then lifted up [his] eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
Hey, guys. Jesus ALWAYS has a plan that He is working on for our lives. No matter what it looks like to us, He ALWAYS knows what He is about to do. Notice that Jesus directly asked Philip a question. But, Jesus already had it planned out in His heart. Why did He ask Philip the question? Because, He had some work to do INSIDE Philip. Has God asked you to do something that He hasn't asked anyone else to do? Has God brought you along a path that has you asking, "Why me God? What did I ever do to You to deserve this kind of treatment? Why are You picking on me like this?" Or, how many of US have asked through our tears, "I thought You loved me. Is this the way You treat people you love?" If you have a testimony of how God brought you through a time like this, write it to me in the comment box and I will share it with the other readers.
Remember this, out of all His disciples that were standing around Him at that moment, and out of the thousands of people that were coming towards Him, He took some personal time with a disciple that He loved. Out of everybody that was there, out of all the needs that surrounded Him, Jesus still took time out to teach ONE person something that he needed to know.
And, you are just as special to Jesus as Philip was that day. Now notice that Philip did not ASKED to be taught. Jesus knew that Philip needed an EXTRA word of encouragement to bring the knowledge of His love and providence to a new level in Philip's heart. When God picks us out, when it looks like He is PICKING on us, He is really just picking us out to bring us into a new awareness of His love. Out of all of the thousands around us, He is taking some special time to do some one-on-one with us. Let's throw our hurts and questions away and fix our eyes on Him. Listen to Him instead of complain. Let's see what one-on-one message He has to teach us today.

Pass this on to someone who needs it. I just did!