THE MAINE PATRIOT BOARD :: SUNDAY SERMON

Luke 14:28 "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace."

Luke 13:15 "The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?"

These verses may seem to be unrelated on the surface but what I would challenge you to do is to look at them from a common sense perspective rather than try to place them into any spiritual context. It's my contention and belief that the Bible, God's Holy, Inspired and Infallible Word has been given to us for not only our spiritual benefit but also to teach us some common sense or, as a friend of mine puts it, " good walkin around sense".

The first set of verses talk about building a building and going to the trouble beforehand to measure it out and calculate the materials needed so you won't end up looking a fool with it half done and it be unusable. Not to hard to see that.

The next set speaks of strategic planning and taking into consideration all the aspects of conflict as well as the possibility of peace before or instead of conflict.

In both the idea is to be looking to your business - paying attention to what you're doing and making sure that you can get the job done. Inventory of materials and manpower is involved; condition of both; a plan is an absolute necessity for both building and heading off into armed conflict - we just need to use some good sense.

Now, let's look at the last verse - the one about the care of animals. Christ's argument here was about using one's head again but in reference to how the Pharises were behaving toward Him for simply taking care of a needy woman on the Sabbath. THEY would have the basic
kindness and care for a work animal and water it on even the sabbath yet condemn Him for doing good on the same day - no sense whatsoever.

All that said, I want to make a few comments about the maintenance of our country. There are those who believe that if we're Christian, we have no business being any further involved in 'the affairs of this life'(II Timothy 2:4) beyond voting; that we shouldn't get tangled up in the calling on of our elected representatives, sending emails or taking time to participate in activities like public demonstrations. But let me pose a situation to you:

Scripture instructs us to care for those of our own household and beyond to care specifically for the elderly of our families - or we're worse than infidels.

I Timothy 5:3 "� Honour widows that are widows indeed.
4 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
7 And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.
8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."

Now, let's apply a little common sense here. To effect this, one would need: 1) a suitable house with at least one room for the widow, 2) a job that could at least minimally support one's immediate family and her. If I don't have those things, I would need to make those arrangements in order to be doing the right thing by my family and widowed relative.

We have been given the most unique governmental situation ever seen on this planet. There is no society on record with a system even close to ours nor one that has come about with such tremendous Divine Influence outside of Israel herself. It can be said that ours is a nation born of miracles. Whether you accept it or not, it was founded for religious freedom as well as individual freedoms. Those freedoms were and are still held by a few of us to be inalienable rights endued by our Creator.

I think it a fair assumption that most of us would like to continue exercising our rights and freedoms for as long as it is humanly possible and that we want these same freedoms to be enjoyed by our posterity. How then could anyone even consider it feasible to withdraw from it's maintenance? How can anyone claim it to be outside the "spiritual realm" to participate in the workings of such a government? If you own a home, is it unreasonable or unspiritual for you to paint it, repair the faucets or roof? Should it need a new furnace, would any of us refuse to replace it based on such a straw argument as it not being a spiritual effort??? And if we did take that tack, what of the mandate to properly care for our widowed relative or those of our immediate family for that matter???

WHERE IS THE LOGIC ??? !!! There is none. Rather, what we have is a number of generations of Christians who have been "untrained" in civic duty. They have been wrongly lead to believe that getting involved in such matters is to step outside of one's spiritual boundaries and dabble in forbidden efforts, fruitless efforts which will be the cause of ruination of a person's testimony and quite possibly his life. If we look at Adam, the first man, even he was charged with responsibility and duty: take care of the Garden - the GOD GIVEN GARDEN !!!! Should we be charged with any less than equal responsibility or duty?

Let me encourage you to stick with it... stay the course... fight the good fight... prepare for the worst case scenario but work toward that situation where we can all relax and enjoy what we have worked hard to secure. Call, write, email, squawk on every internet outlet you can - get your message of reform out. VOTE !!! learn about the candidates and if you get the chance GRILL THEM till they shrink back in shame because of their position or they stand firm and can look you in the eye as a man ought to be able to do. It sounds "old fashioned" but it worked back when this nation was founded and unless I miss my guess, we've drifted a very long way from that time and place and it's time we got back to it if things are going to change at all for the better.

Father in Heaven, forgive us for our slothfulness and apathy in our duties. We need to be about the business of trimming and caring for the garden that You've placed us in. Help us to be busy taking care of our part of this garden. In Christ's Holy Name...

Welcome, Register :: Log In		Welcome to our newest member, berettastorm.
Users active in this forum:
Users active in this thread: Guest