700 BILLION DOLLARS FOR THE MILITARY (IS THAT JUSTIFIED?)

I’ve heard many Americans complain that sustaining the military cost too much. They are troubled by the amount of money we spend when it comes to our Armed Forces. The 2019 Defense Budget, approved by Congress and signed by President Trump, includes a 2.6 percent pay increase and a $716 billion price tag.

Is this really necessary? Is it right that the majority of America’s budget goes toward national defense?

We’ve all heard the reasons that supposedly justifies such massive spending: “They keep us safe,” is the usual response.

But they actually do more.

Have you ever considered how important it is that we have the strongest military on this planet? What benefit do YOU derive from a powerful military?

On this Veterans Day weekend you might want to answer that question. And if you respond correctly, you’ll probably be grateful that we have such a budget.

Consider for a moment how this military of ours affects YOUR life.

You need to know something: Everything you get to do in your life is because of the military. Everything!

Here’s a fact: if we are a weak, defenseless country, our enemies (and there are many) would have easy access to us. They could invade our borders, and with little resistance, occupy our country.

But because of the presence of a strong military, all the freedoms we enjoy are protected. ALL OF THEM.

  • You get to pursue your dreams without fear of a foreign invasion.

  • You can chase any career you desire.

  • You can vacation anywhere you want.

  • You can choose what college you want to attend.

And you owe all of this this to the men and women who are willing to sacrifice their life – so you can enjoy yours. They forfeit their dreams while giving you the opportunity to go after yours.

Many opponents of a strong military fail to realize that without them everything else would be threatened.  

Every night on late night TV, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, and Stephen Colbert ridicule the President of the United States. They forget that he, as Commander in Chief, and the rest of the military, make possible their lucrative careers. They forget that the 42 million dollars combined that they are paid yearly, is because of the military (and the Commander in Chief who leads them). They get to live in luxury and enjoy a lifestyle that few will ever know.

And they get to do so because of the military.

Often, the topics that take front and center, such as the Environment or Education, can only be addressed and corrected if we have a strong military.

For example, it wouldn’t matter how much money and time we devoted to our kids’ education, if they weren’t safe. The military provides a safe environment in which our kids can learn without fear of foreign invasion.

You may be a small business owner, a “mom and pop” store on the corner of some tiny American town. You get to do that because of the military. The protection they give enables you to operate that small business.

The military doesn’t just keep us free: they make it possible for us to pursue our dreams.

Tonight I went to a sporting goods store. I needed something that only they had. While there I struck up a conversation with one of the salesmen, Carl. Though he’s only 24 years old, he is a seasoned combat veteran, having been deployed several times to Afghanistan. He had a smile that lit up the room, but it only served as a cover for his pain. Carl has killed a lot of terrorists. 

He proudly showed me a photo of his unit. 

I’ve never been one to leave well-enough alone. I wanted to know how this young man was doing. When I inquired about his emotional health, the dam broke. 

“I’m not doing too good. I got extreme PTSD, nightmares and all.”

Within minutes I made arrangements with Colonel Grossman to get him a copy of his book, “On Combat.”  I assured him it would be in his mailbox within days. Colonel Grossman’s book has helped thousands of veterans like Carl. 

I’m roaming the mall with my granddaughter tonight. I can go in to any store I want, buy anything I want. When I’m done, I will wander out to my car, and go wherever I please. And tomorrow, I’ll do it all over again. 

If I get an itch to move my family across the country, I can do so. If I want to open my own business, I can do that.

I’m a free man, living in a free country. I can fully engage in “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Thank you Carl for making this possible.

YES - 700 billion is justified.


  •  WE HAVE A SHEEPDOG SEMINAR IN PUEBLO, COLORADO THIS COMING FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16. Pastor Frank Pomeroy will be with us. He is the pastor of the church in Sutherland Springs, Texas where an angry gunman entered and murdered 26 people in November of 2017 (and injured 20 more). Click here for info.

  • Church Safety Seminar in Dallas, Texas on December 1st. It will be hands on training. Click here for info.

 

 

If you're a Police Officer - You Need to Know this!

The vast majority of the American public supports you. That's right, they stand in your corner. 

However, there is a small segment of the population that is not supportive, and they have a "plan." Your career will be much smoother if you can understand this. Read carefully...

Lately, I have been studying videos made by the public when recording the police. Many of those who film will actually go to police departments and try to "draw out" the officers to engage them in a conversation. Their hope is to get the officer to do or say something that will get them in some kind of trouble.

These folks do not have your best interest in mind. Their hope is that you will say or do something that is unlawful - or a violation of your department's policy. 

Remember this: their intent is to GET UNDER YOUR SKIN." If they succeed, they will win. And time after time, as I review these videos, they win. The officer loses his cool, and then says or does something he regrets.

Fellow officer; I beg you to hear me. I spent 35 years on the street, and I would be the first to admit that this is easier said than done. 

The public has its share of men and women who crave attention. And they have you in their crosshairs.

You MUST understand the MOTIVES of these people. In reality, they have no concern for the First Amendment - and their knowledge of the law is embarrassing. They are usually in their 20's or 30s, and the hate and anger can be seen in their face. Put simply, they want to video you, and then post it on their internet channel.

YOU HAVE TO REMIND YOURSELF OF THIS OFTEN. Talk to yourself when you approach them, warn yourself with a whisper to not allow them under your skin. Smile, and then "kill them with kindness." Doing this will aggravate them to no end. Their goal is to make a fool of you. Don't let them win.

Remember, these are self-made lawyers who have never cracked a law book.

They are like the men who eventually cried out for the death of Jesus who, we are told, "...wanted to trap him (Jesus) into saying something they could use against him" (Luke 11:54).

DO ... NOT ... LET ... THEM ... WIN ...

Permit me to add one final word. You may be a Christian officer, or pure pagan. That's your business. But let me suggest something to you that helped me down through the years...

Before every encounter with the public, ask for God's help. Simply whisper a prayer, and he may well give you a quick injection of grace. I experienced this many times.

It may be fresh news to you, but the God of heaven is the most pro-police Person in the universe! He stands with you. He delights to help you. He knows what it is to be cursed at and hated.

I encourage you to adopt the attitude he had when he walked the earth: "And Jesus trusted NO man" (John 2:25).

NOTE: WE HAVE A SHEEPDOG SEMINAR IN THE NEW YORK CITY AREA THIS COMING FRIDAY AND SATURDAY (0CT 26-27 CLICK HERE FOR INFO

WE MUST WORK TOWARD PUTTING THE AMBER ALERT OUT OF BUSINESS (I BEG YOU TO READ THIS)

My 7-year old granddaughter lives with me and has for the last six years. She is pure joy. I cannot find the words to describe the sheer pleasure of having her in my life on a daily basis. Her smile, her laughter, brightens up the dark days.

Every morning before she heads off to school, I help her brush her teeth, and then I get to comb her hair. Sometimes, while combing, I grow frustrated with all the tangles that have formed overnight. Combing her hair can turn into a five-minute ordeal. But when that happens, I'm always reminded of an event that happened a couple of decades ago - an encounter that I will never be able to forget...

In 2001 I was a school cop, more commonly known as a School Resource Officer (SRO). I loved that job. And though I had already been an officer for 20 years when I landed this assignment, it was like starting my career all over. The excitement had returned.

One day after work, I drove to the station to drop off my patrol car and then headed home. My personal vehicle was an old van that had been given to me as a gift about 12 years earlier. I had worn that thing out, and, no doubt, it was on its final leg. One of its issues was that the gas needle was broke, thus, I never had any idea how much gas was in the tank. You might say I “drove by faith.”

But on this particular day, my faith wasn’t sufficient. The tank was nearing empty (unknown to me). The old van sputtered and died, forcing me to cruise into a church parking lot next to a grade school.

I was in my uniform, which caused me some embarrassment. I got out of the van, kicked it, and said a few things I probably shouldn’t have. Since I was only five blocks from the house, I decided to walk home...

No sooner had I gotten a few yards when someone grabbed my attention.

“Officer, what’s the problem?” Larry was in the same parking lot, waiting for his wife and kid to come out of school when he saw my agitation concerning my vehicle.

“Aw, I’m outta gas. But, I only live a few blocks down the street. I’ll be ok. Thanks.”

“Officer, I’ve got some time," Larry said. "I can go get you some gas. I gotta gas can and doing so won’t be a problem. Besides, I have a lot of respect for the police. It would mean a lot to me if I could help ya.”

Wearing that heavy uniform I had no desire to walk home. The belt itself, along with its 'stuff,' weighed 22 pounds. Why not let him help? I concluded. 

“Sure, sir. I’d really appreciate it.”

He smiled and started to make his way toward his car. But then he turned and said something else. “Officer, I'm gonna need a favor from ya.”

“Oh? What’s that?”

Pointing toward the school, Larry said, “My wife will be coming out of that gym door any moment. Her son will be with her. When she sees you standing here she will get nervous, wondering if everything's ok. Would you please tell her I went to get ya some gas.”

“Sure...no problem.”

He hesitated for a moment and then added: “You might even recognize her. Her name is Donna - and she’s the mother of Amber Hagerman.”

Amber Hagerman was the 9-year girl who in 1996 had been abducted in Arlington, Texas (about 10 miles from our location). Her kidnapper had brutally murdered her after torturing her. It was Amber's death that created the Amber Alert.

I was caught off guard by his remark. I had no idea that the mother of Amber Hagerman lived in my neighborhood.

“Sir,” I asked, “do you mean Amber ... from ‘the Amber Alert?’”

“Yeah, from the Amber Alert.”

 Amber Hagerman

“Sure,” I said. “I’d like to meet her.”

He hopped in his car and went off to fetch me some gas. I turned toward the grade school and watched for Donna. A couple of minutes later, I saw her exit the gym door. She was holding her son’s hand. When she got near me, I quickly struck up a conversation, speaking rapidly -

“Hello Donna. I’m Officer Meeks. Everything is ok. I ran out of gas and your hubby went to get me some. I'm pretty embarrassed.” 

“Oh, ok,” she said, her voice ever so gentle.

She walked over to her car: her son got in the passenger seat, she slipped into the driver’s side.

I didn’t know what to say. I just stood there. Amber had only been dead about five years and the memory of the tragedy was still very fresh in the community – as well as the nation.

Donna broke the silence.

“Officer Meeks, do you know who I am?”

“Yes ma'am I do. You’re Amber Hagerman’s mom. I saw you on TV with the president not too long ago. Your courage has been an inspiration to the country, ma’am.”

“Oh,” she replied, her voice filled with sorrow.

I leaned back against my van. Still unsure of what, if anything, I should say. The silence returned.

She sat in her car, staring at the steering wheel. For a second time, she broke the silence.

“Officer Meeks?”

“Yes, Donna...”

“You know what I miss the most ... about Amber?”

I was not ready for that question. I had no idea what she was about to say, nor did I know how to answer her question. She was looking right at me. I thought for a moment what this dear, precious lady must be enduring every day of her life. And to make matters worse, Amber’s killer had not been caught (still hasn’t).

The only thing that came to mind was this...

“Donna, I have five daughters. And I cannot begin to imagine what you must go through every day...”

So she told me. She told me what she missed "the most" about Amber.

“I sure do miss ...combing her hair.”

I was speechless. I am not often without words, but I was in this moment.

I have no memory of Larry returning with my gas. I know he did, for I was soon walking in the back door of my house. I went straight to my room and shed the uniform, changing into something more comfortable.

I then marched into the living room and sat on the couch. I knew my youngest daughter, 4-year old Lydia, was in her room, which was only a few feet from where I sat. I shouted – no - I hollered at her...

“LYDIA! GET IN HERE... and bring a ... brush...”

Seconds later she came running out, brush in hand. She looked at me, puzzled and curious.

“Sweetheart. I need you to sit here ... and let me ... comb your hair.."

She quietly sat down, and I brushed that long, beautiful hair...

And now, every morning – 18 years later – I comb the hair of another little girl: a 7-year old who calls me “Poppy.” And when I get frustrated with the tangles, I remember Donna.

And I remember Amber.

At every Sheepdog Seminar we beg and plead for churches to send their youth directors and children’s workers. Sadly, only a few - usually none - will be in attendance. I simply cannot get them to see the importance of this.

At the seminar, we will show them exactly what must be done to prevent the sex crimes that are happening on faith-based property.

At a seminar in North Dakota a youth director did show up. “What made you decide to come?” I asked. The man sitting across from him – his pastor – interrupted: “I TOLD HIM TO COME.” I was impressed by this pastor, and the youth director. But I remain puzzled: why won’t pastors just tell their youth directors: “YOU ... ARE ... GOING.” Period. And if not to one of our seminars, attend one somewhere.

Perhaps you’re wondering if an abduction could happen at a church. Yes, they can.

And they have...

In November of 2016 10-year old Kayla Gomez-Orozco (right) was inside her east Texas church during a Wednesday night prayer meeting when she was abducted. An Amber Alert was issued. Over the next few days, 800 volunteers searched 1500 acres. But sadly, her lifeless body was found in a well. A relative was arrested and charged with Capital Murder.

HE ... HAD ... ABDUCTED ... HER ... RIGHT ... OUT ... OF ... THE...CHURCH.

It may seem like the impossible dream, but we must work toward putting the Amber Alert out of business. We must, at all costs, protect our children wherever they may be. Wouldn't it be a better world, to say the least, if children were protected and no cause for an alert was needed. We must fight toward this end.

 

UPCOMING SHEEPDOG SEMINARS

  • Birmingham, Alabama - September 28-29. Click here. Stephen Willeford will be with us in Birmingham. Stephen is the man who shot, and stopped, the killer at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs last November (where 26 worshipers were murdered).

  • San Diego, California - October 6. Stephen Willeford will be with us in San Diego. Stephen is the man who shot, and stopped, the killer at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs last November (where 26 worshipers were murdered)

 

 

 

 

 

WE MUST WORK TOWARD PUTTING THE AMBER ALERT OUT OF BUSINESS (I BEG YOU TO READ THIS)

My 7-year old granddaughter lives with me and has for the last six years. She is pure joy. I cannot find the words to describe the sheer pleasure of having her in my life on a daily basis. Her smile, her laughter, brightens up the dark days.

Every morning before she heads off to school, I help her brush her teeth, and then I get to comb her hair. Sometimes, while combing, I grow frustrated with all the tangles that have formed overnight. Combing her hair can turn into a five-minute ordeal. But when that happens, I'm always reminded of an event that happened a couple of decades ago - an encounter that I will never be able to forget...

In 2001 I was a school cop, more commonly known as a School Resource Officer (SRO). I loved that job. And though I had already been an officer for 20 years when I landed this assignment, it was like starting my career all over. The excitement had returned.

One day after work, I drove to the station to drop off my patrol car and then headed home. My personal vehicle was an old van that had been given to me as a gift about 12 years earlier. I had worn that thing out, and, no doubt, it was on its final leg. One of its issues was that the gas needle was broke, thus, I never had any idea how much gas was in the tank. You might say I “drove by faith.”

But on this particular day, my faith wasn’t sufficient. The tank was nearing empty (unknown to me). The old van sputtered and died, forcing me to cruise into a church parking lot next to a grade school.

I was in my uniform, which caused me some embarrassment. I got out of the van, kicked it, and said a few things I probably shouldn’t have. Since I was only five blocks from the house, I decided to walk home...

No sooner had I gotten a few yards when someone grabbed my attention.

“Officer, what’s the problem?” Larry was in the same parking lot, waiting for his wife and kid to come out of school when he saw my agitation concerning my vehicle.

“Aw, I’m outta gas. But, I only live a few blocks down the street. I’ll be ok. Thanks.”

“Officer, I’ve got some time," Larry said. "I can go get you some gas. I gotta gas can and doing so won’t be a problem. Besides, I have a lot of respect for the police. It would mean a lot to me if I could help ya.”

Wearing that heavy uniform I had no desire to walk home. The belt itself, along with its 'stuff,' weighed 22 pounds. Why not let him help? I concluded. 

“Sure, sir. I’d really appreciate it.”

He smiled and started to make his way toward his car. But then he turned and said something else. “Officer, I'm gonna need a favor from ya.”

“Oh? What’s that?”

Pointing toward the school, Larry said, “My wife will be coming out of that gym door any moment. Her son will be with her. When she sees you standing here she will get nervous, wondering if everything's ok. Would you please tell her I went to get ya some gas.”

“Sure...no problem.”

He hesitated for a moment and then added: “You might even recognize her. Her name is Donna - and she’s the mother of Amber Hagerman.”

Amber Hagerman was the 9-year girl who in 1996 had been abducted in Arlington, Texas (about 10 miles from our location). Her kidnapper had brutally murdered her after torturing her. It was Amber's death that created the Amber Alert.

I was caught off guard by his remark. I had no idea that the mother of Amber Hagerman lived in my neighborhood.

“Sir,” I asked, “do you mean Amber ... from ‘the Amber Alert?’”

“Yeah, from the Amber Alert.”

 Amber Hagerman

“Sure,” I said. “I’d like to meet her.”

He hopped in his car and went off to fetch me some gas. I turned toward the grade school and watched for Donna. A couple of minutes later, I saw her exit the gym door. She was holding her son’s hand. When she got near me, I quickly struck up a conversation, speaking rapidly -

“Hello Donna. I’m Officer Meeks. Everything is ok. I ran out of gas and your hubby went to get me some. I'm pretty embarrassed.” 

“Oh, ok,” she said, her voice ever so gentle.

She walked over to her car: her son got in the passenger seat, she slipped into the driver’s side.

I didn’t know what to say. I just stood there. Amber had only been dead about five years and the memory of the tragedy was still very fresh in the community – as well as the nation.

Donna broke the silence.

“Officer Meeks, do you know who I am?”

“Yes ma'am I do. You’re Amber Hagerman’s mom. I saw you on TV with the president not too long ago. Your courage has been an inspiration to the country, ma’am.”

“Oh,” she replied, her voice filled with sorrow.

I leaned back against my van. Still unsure of what, if anything, I should say. The silence returned.

She sat in her car, staring at the steering wheel. For a second time, she broke the silence.

“Officer Meeks?”

“Yes, Donna...”

“You know what I miss the most ... about Amber?”

I was not ready for that question. I had no idea what she was about to say, nor did I know how to answer her question. She was looking right at me. I thought for a moment what this dear, precious lady must be enduring every day of her life. And to make matters worse, Amber’s killer had not been caught (still hasn’t).

The only thing that came to mind was this...

“Donna, I have five daughters. And I cannot begin to imagine what you must go through every day...”

So she told me. She told me what she missed "the most" about Amber.

“I sure do miss ...combing her hair.”

I was speechless. I am not often without words, but I was in this moment.

I have no memory of Larry returning with my gas. I know he did, for I was soon walking in the back door of my house. I went straight to my room and shed the uniform, changing into something more comfortable.

I then marched into the living room and sat on the couch. I knew my youngest daughter, 4-year old Lydia, was in her room, which was only a few feet from where I sat. I shouted – no - I hollered at her...

“LYDIA! GET IN HERE... and bring a ... brush...”

Seconds later she came running out, brush in hand. She looked at me, puzzled and curious.

“Sweetheart. I need you to sit here ... and let me ... comb your hair.."

She quietly sat down, and I brushed that long, beautiful hair...

And now, every morning – 18 years later – I comb the hair of another little girl: a 7-year old who calls me “Poppy.” And when I get frustrated with the tangles, I remember Donna.

And I remember Amber.

At every Sheepdog Seminar we beg and plead for churches to send their youth directors and children’s workers. Sadly, only a few - usually none - will be in attendance. I simply cannot get them to see the importance of this.

At the seminar, we will show them exactly what must be done to prevent the sex crimes that are happening on faith-based property.

At a seminar in North Dakota a youth director did show up. “What made you decide to come?” I asked. The man sitting across from him – his pastor – interrupted: “I TOLD HIM TO COME.” I was impressed by this pastor, and the youth director. But I remain puzzled: why won’t pastors just tell their youth directors: “YOU ... ARE ... GOING.” Period. And if not to one of our seminars, attend one somewhere.

Perhaps you’re wondering if an abduction could happen at a church. Yes, they can.

And they have...

In November of 2016 10-year old Kayla Gomez-Orozco (right) was inside her east Texas church during a Wednesday night prayer meeting when she was abducted. An Amber Alert was issued. Over the next few days, 800 volunteers searched 1500 acres. But sadly, her lifeless body was found in a well. A relative was arrested and charged with Capital Murder.

HE ... HAD ... ABDUCTED ... HER ... RIGHT ... OUT ... OF ... THE...CHURCH.

It may seem like the impossible dream, but we must work toward putting the Amber Alert out of business.

 

UPCOMING SHEEPDOG SEMINARS

  • Birmingham, Alabama - September 28-29. Click here. Stephen Willeford will be with us in Birmingham. Stephen is the man who shot, and stopped, the killer at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs last November (where 26 worshipers were murdered).

  • San Diego, California - October 6. Stephen Willeford will be with us in San Diego. Stephen is the man who shot, and stopped, the killer at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs last November (where 26 worshipers were murdered)

 

 

 

 

 

I'M CONSIDERING A SEANCE AT CHURCH; WILL THE PEOPLE BE RECEPTIVE?

In the hurry and bustle of our lives, we often fail to see how we allow the enemy to attack us. 

Consider the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts chapter 5. They lived in the early days of the church, when the Spirit of God had fallen on the people and many were converted. The result of some of the conversions was that the rich folk sold their lands. They would then take the funds from the sale, and bring them to the Apostles. The money was then distributed to those in need...

Ananias, and his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property and brought some of the money to the Apostle Peter. The were not under obligation to do so, for, as we later learn, they were free to do as they pleased with their own money. Their sin was in lying about the amount they had gotten from the sale. They indicated to Peter that the money they were donating was the entire amount they had received for the sale of their property.

For the sake of the illustration, you could say they got $1000 for the land. However, they donated $500 to the church. Their deception lay in the fact that they led Peter to believe that they had gotten 500 - not 1000, for the land. This was their sin.

Peter confronted them with their sin. And then he said something to them that is very disturbing: “Why has SATAN filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds of the land?”

Wo. Think about this for a moment. Peter sees their act as a result of being filled with the power of Satan! 

Have you ever considered the fact that when you lie you are doing so because the devil himself has - at least for that moment - filled your heart? 

We have different names for lies. We call them “while lies,” or “half truths.” But God doesn’t allow such a vocabulary in his kingdom: he says they are LIES. And it is downright frightening to realize that we do so because the power of Satan has filled our heart.

Suppose you came to church to hear me preach. As I stand behind the pulpit, however, I began to tell you that I am too sad to preach today. Why? I miss my dad who died in 2007. I am simply too sad, filled with grief, to the point that I just can’t deliver a sermon.

But, I tell the crowd, I have recently done some research and have learned how to summon the dead. “It’s a seance,” I tell the crowd, a meeting at which people contact the dead, with the help of a medium.

You hear me say this and immediately you are very offended - and rightly so. You’re about to walk out of the sanctuary, but before you do, you stand up and shout at me: “Jimmy, a seance is satanic. You’re practicing witchcraft!”

And you are right. That’s exactly what I would be doing. I am simply practicing witchcraft, a sure way to invite devils and demons into a house of worship. And you would be spot on to walk out in disgust.

I would never conduct such a meeting - but I have done something similar: I have lied. And when I lie, I am doing so under the influence of the devil. The same devil that would have me conduct a seance has helped me...lie.

We have grown so accustomed to telling so-called “half truths” that we have come to accept it as no big deal. But that is not the truth. 

Peter told Ananias that he had not lied to men, BUT TO GOD. Have you considered the fact that when you lie, you are not sinning against humans: you are standing in front of God, looking him straight in the face, and lying...TO HIM...

Years ago I needed a new car for my family. My wife and I had 5 children, and needed a vehicle that had enough room. I soon found such a car: a beautiful, big, long station wagon. That thing could easily hold 9 passengers.

I saw the car in the front yard of a resident, with a “For Sale” sign attached. “Sir,” how much for the car” I asked him. “$2500.00” he replied.

I fell in love with this car and came up with 2500 bucks and bought the thing. 

But, I would now need an additional 212 dollars to pay the taxes and obtain my updated registration. However, I found a way around having to pay taxes on 2500 dollars...

I told the man who sold me the car, “Sir, I am going to give you 1000 dollars for the car, and since you are ‘helping’ my family find a car, I am going to ‘donate’ an additional 1500 dollars to you.” He smiled and indicated that he understood. I soon drove off in my new car (actually a used car).

I would go to the tax office and purchase my new tags. And when the clerk asked me what I paid for the car, I would tell her: “1000 dollars.” That would put my taxes around 80 bucks, saving me some cash. 

But, I am a Christian. And my conscience troubled me. I explained my dilemma to my dad, soliciting his opinion. “Son,” he replied. “Look at it this way. If you pay taxes on 2500 you will never wonder if you did the right thing.” That got me. I went to the tax office and paid taxes on 2500 - and the peace of God flooded my mind.

But, consider for just a moment what I was going to do, and what was taking place in my heart. I had, though only for a while, allowed Satan to fill my heart to lie. It is troubling to realize that that course of action would have been...DEMONIC!

I was about to sell my integrity for roughly 138 dollars.

And ponder this: when questioned by the clerk about the price I had paid, I was going to lie. But she would NOT have been the one I would have lied to. On the contrary, the victim of my lie would have been ... God himself!

Scary, is it not, when we consider how many lies we have told God (who KNOWS all things)? 

Troubling, to say the least, when we consider that we told the IRS we made $50,000 last year, when we know in fact we made much more. We reason that it’s no big deal - “the government doesn’t need my money,” we conclude. And when we do this, we fail to realize that in that moment we have been filled with the power of Satan. And it is not the IRS we lied to - but God.

And our hypocrisy is awful. We have contempt for the politicians when we learn of how they committed “tax evasion.” But that is the SAME SIN we are guilty of.

And we sometimes see this in the church that boasts of having 5000 in their membership, when they know good and well that that the “active” membership is probably half, or less, than that amount.

I agree with the saying that we should “Drain the Swamp.” Let us start with us, the ones who profess faith in Christ. 

Long ago God told us in one of the 10 Commandments: “Thou shalt not lie.” And they are called THE 10 Commandments - not the 10 SUGGESTIONS.


UPCOMING SHEEPDOG SEMINARS

  • Birmingham, Alabama - September 28-29. Click here. Stephen Willeford will be with us in Birmingham. Stephen is the man who shot, and stopped, the killer at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs last November (where 26 worshipers were murdered).

  • San Diego, California - October 6. Stephen Willeford will be with us in San Diego. Stephen is the man who shot, and stopped, the killer at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs last November (where 26 worshipers were murdered)

I'M CONSIDERING A SEANCE AT CHURCH; WILL THE PEOPLE BE RECEPTIVE?

In the hurry and bustle of our lives, we often fail to see how we allow the enemy to attack us. 

Consider the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts chapter 5. They lived in the early days of the church, when the Spirit of God had fallen on the people and many were converted. The result of some of the conversions was that the rich folk sold their lands. They would then take the funds from the sale, and bring them to the Apostles. The money was then distributed to those in need...

Ananias, and his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property and brought some of the money to the Apostle Peter. The were not under obligation to do so, for, as we later learn, they were free to do as they pleased with their own money. Their sin was in lying about the amount they had gotten from the sale. They indicated to Peter that the money they were donating was the entire amount they had received for the sale of their property.

For the sake of the illustration, you could say they got $1000 for the land. However, they donated $500 to the church. Their deception lay in the fact that they led Peter to believe that they had gotten 500 - not 1000, for the land. This was their sin.

Peter confronted them with their sin. And then he said something to them that is very disturbing: “Why has SATAN filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds of the land?”

Wo. Think about this for a moment. Peter sees their act as a result of being filled with the power of Satan! 

Have you ever considered the fact that when you lie you are doing so because the devil himself has - at least for that moment - filled your heart? 

We have different names for lies. We call them “while lies,” or “half truths.” But God doesn’t allow such a vocabulary in his kingdom: he says they are LIES. And it is downright frightening to realize that we do so because the power of Satan has filled our heart.

Suppose you came to church to hear me preach. As I stand behind the pulpit, however, I began to tell you that I am too sad to preach today. Why? I miss my dad who died in 2007. I am simply too sad, filled with grief, to the point that I just can’t deliver a sermon.

But, I tell the crowd, I have recently done some research and have learned how to summon the dead. “It’s a seance,” I tell the crowd, a meeting at which people contact the dead, with the help of a medium.

You hear me say this and immediately you are very offended - and rightly so. You’re about to walk out of the sanctuary, but before you do, you stand up and shout at me: “Jimmy, a seance is satanic. You’re practicing witchcraft!”

And you are right. That’s exactly what I would be doing. I am simply practicing witchcraft, a sure way to invite devils and demons into a house of worship. And you would be spot on to walk out in disgust.

I would never conduct such a meeting - but I have done something similar: I have lied. And when I lie, I am doing so under the influence of the devil. The same devil that would have me conduct a seance has helped me...lie.

We have grown so accustomed to telling so-called “half truths” that we have come to accept it as no big deal. But that is not the truth. 

Peter told Ananias that he had not lied to men, BUT TO GOD. Have you considered the fact that when you lie, you are not sinning against humans: you are standing in front of God, looking him straight in the face, and lying...TO HIM...

Years ago I needed a new car for my family. My wife and I had 5 children, and needed a vehicle that had enough room. I soon found such a car: a beautiful, big, long station wagon. That thing could easily hold 9 passengers.

I saw the car in the front yard of a resident, with a “For Sale” sign attached. “Sir,” how much for the car” I asked him. “$2500.00” he replied.

I fell in love with this car and came up with 2500 bucks and bought the thing. 

But, I would now need an additional 212 dollars to pay the taxes and obtain my updated registration. However, I found a way around having to pay taxes on 2500 dollars...

I told the man who sold me the car, “Sir, I am going to give you 1000 dollars for the car, and since you are ‘helping’ my family find a car, I am going to ‘donate’ an additional 1500 dollars to you.” He smiled and indicated that he understood. I soon drove off in my new car (actually a used car).

I would go to the tax office and purchase my new tags. And when the clerk asked me what I paid for the car, I would tell her: “1000 dollars.”

But, I am a Christian. And my conscience troubled me. I explained my dilemma to my dad, soliciting his opinion. “Son,” he replied. “Look at it this way. If you pay taxes on 2500 you will never wonder if you did the right thing.” That got me. I went to the tax office and paid taxes on 2500 - and the peace of God flooded my mind.

But, consider for just a moment what I was going to do, and what was taking place in my heart. I had, though only for a while, allowed Satan to fill my heart to lie. It is troubling to realize that that course of action would have been...DEMONIC!

And ponder this: when questioned by the clerk about the price I had paid, I was going to lie. But she would NOT have been the one I would have lied to. On the contrary, the victim of my lie would have been ... God himself!

Scary, is it not, when we consider how many lies we have told God (who KNOWS all things)? 

Troubling, to say the least, when we consider that we told the IRS we made $50,000 last year, when we know in fact we made much more. We reason that it’s no big deal - “the government doesn’t need my money,” we conclude. And when we do this, we fail to realize that in that moment we have been filled with the power of Satan. And it is not the IRS we lied to - but God.

And our hypocrisy is awful. We have contempt for the politicians when we lear of how they committed “tax evasion.” But that is the SAME SIN we are guilty of.

And we sometimes see this in the church that boasts of having 5000 in their membership, when they know good and well that that the “active” membership is probably half, or less, than that amount.

I agree with the saying that we should “Drain the Swamp.” Let us start with us, the ones who profess faith in Christ. 

Long ago God told us in one of the 10 Commandments: “Thou shalt not lie.” And they are called THE 10 Commandments - not the 10 SUGGESTIONS.


UPCOMING SHEEPDOG SEMINARS

  • Birmingham, Alabama - September 28-29. Click here. Stephen Willeford will be with us in Birmingham. Stephen is the man who shot, and stopped, the killer at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs last November (where 26 worshipers were murdered).

  • San Diego, California - October 6. Stephen Willeford will be with us in San Diego. Stephen is the man who shot, and stopped, the killer at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs last November (where 26 worshipers were murdered)