Sorry’s not a good excuse for ignorance.”
              –Jim Burnett  (The Bible and the Badge)

    “Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.”
              –Ephesians 4:18(NKJV)
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Did America have its chance back in 2001?  Remember that day following the attack by Muslim terrorists destroying the Twin Towers and changing forever the lives of thousands of people?  That day when members of both houses of Congress stood on the steps of the Capitol singing, “God Bless America.”  Oh, how quickly the times have changed due to the fickleness and hatred of the people.
    Was that a day of decision?  Was that the Lord telling America, choose you this day whom you will serve?  If so, no wonder we are seeing havoc in the streets.  America, briefly made a choice for the good, the right, but now there is so much mockery of God’s rule and law.  
    There were the slogans, “Never Forget!” and “Maintain the Rage!” but all of that is seemingly just a forgotten memory.  Where did our resolve go?  What happened to our determination?
    I don’t know, I cannot know the mind of God is that case, but I do know that there is a time when He says enough is enough.  There is that time when He will no longer answer the call of the people.

         “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?  For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge.  Turn at my rebuke; surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.  Because I have called and you have refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, because you disdained all my counsel, and would have none of my rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, when your terror comes like a storm, and your destruction comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.”
                   –Proverbs 1:22-27 (NKJV)

If you are not a believer these words should cause you to tremble.  More than likely the fool, the unbeliever, will continue to scorn, to hate, to mock, and to laugh at the Word of God.  Look at the attacks on the Church today, on the faithful ministers of God’s Word.  It has multiplied and is no longer hidden, but is a full-fledged part of the liberal agenda.  Continue to look at the end of Proverbs, chapter 1.

         “Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies.  For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil.” (1:31-33, NKJV)

    We have turned in less than two decades from one day singing, “God Bless America,” to mocking God and crying, “I dare You!”
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    With that, and looking at the times, it is a necessity to make sure we have our Guide.  I wrote the other day about essentials, and one of them is to understand the roadmap.  I have the ol’ steel mount ready to go.  Shoes have been checked, the working parts ready, and I know the route I plan to take.
    In saying that, I’m also saying that me and my favorite “Shotgunner” are taking a trip to the East.  I’m not sure when I’ll get an “Echo” out or the “Saga.”  I’ll try for one on Monday and Tuesday, but after that I’m not sure.
    So once we head out, be prayerful for us in our travels.  I’ll get back on once we have seen the dust settle from our travel.

Don’t we all have to keep beginning our lives over and over again?  Aren’t we all forever getting into trouble and getting out of it?  A man is as good as he makes himself.”
              –William MacLeod Raine  (Gunsight Pass)

    “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.”
              –Psalm 111:10 (NKJV)
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I have often had thoughts regarding “destiny” and have written several times on the thought.  Have you, or I, really been selected for a particular destiny in this world?  If that is true, wouldn’t it also be true of everyone else?  I hear Christians cite Jeremiah 1:5, to declare their destiny.

         “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”  (NKJV)

Perhaps they cite this verse to declare that they are called to a particular position that they covet.  But if everyone’s has been given a destiny, then why are people living in sin?  For sure, God did not destined a person to a life of drugs, lust, and addiction.  Was Hitler then destined?  That means he couldn’t help but be himself and destroy millions of lives.
    Look at the verse, God was speaking to Jeremiah.  Does that mean that God has selected certain people for Himself?  For example, there was a time when Moses appeared in history to deliver Israel from the hands of the Egyptians.  Wasn’t he destined for such a time, wasn’t he chosen particularly by God?  John the Baptist was the forerunner of the Messiah, he surely must have been destined to be born for a certain time.
    You see, we are walking the top fence rail between predestination and foreknowledge.  God knew that Moses would be the deliverer.  However, Moses could have chosen to stay in the courts of Pharaoh rather than face the hardships of the wilderness.  God knows, but He does not force.  He does not sit in the heavens pulling mystical puppet strings.  But in saying that His purpose and plan will come to pass.
    So, here we are, on earth plodding along, trying to survive.  Some people mock God, some say that He is dead or doesn’t exist.  Others have chosen to accept Him as Savior.  Now, the question is, since you are “chosen” that means you are destined for heaven.  Why then do so many Christians seem to walk along aimlessly?  As a believer you have a mission in life and it is to fight darkness and the forces in evil in whatever sphere of influence you have.  Some, have only their neighborhood, some have the burden of the nation on their shoulders.  In either case, they are called to serve God in that realm.  
    When I was growing up our youth group, in fact, all youth groups in the Assemblies of God has a particular name, “Christ’s Ambassadors.”  WOW, such a name!  Now it is simply, “youth”.  Something drastic has happened.  Were people ashamed to be called Christ’s Ambassadors?  An ambassador is “an accredited diplomat sent by a country as it official representative to a foreign country.”  This is a person who works in a foreign country and speaks for and represents the country of his home.  “Youth” don’t quite cut it.  Paul writes, “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20, NKJV).  We serve the creator of all things, the Lord God Almighty.  We are to guard the Truth, speak the Truth, live in the Truth–we are then to be ambassadors.

         “We are Christ’s Ambassadors; And our colors we must unfurl.
          We must wear a spotless robe, Clean and righteous before the world.
          We must show we’re cleansed from sin; And that Jesus dwells within.
          Proving duly that we’re truly Christ’s Ambassadors.”
                   –Mrs. George Wagner

    When you look at the words of the chorus perhaps that tells us why the song, nor the designation is not so popular today.  “We must…”  Too often Christians, or should I say pseudo-Christians are part of the world, they have made this their home rather than speaking the words of God to the evil and darkness that is in the world.

On the trail again.  I wonder if a man ever gets away from it.”
              –Louis L’Amour  (Radigan)

    “That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
              –2 Timothy 3:17 (NKJV)
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Last week I read a great devotion by Richard Dresselhaus regarding “essentials.”  It got me to pondering over the weekend, what things are exactly essentials when going on a trip.  I’m not borrowing from him, except the idea.  But for a minute and indulge me and let’s look at essentials.
    For sure there are the essentials of life.  We need water, food, clothing, and shelter for survival.  Remember good ol’ Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?  The basic needs of life are essential.  He added warmth, rest, shelter, and safety to the bottom two tiers of needs.  He then went on to psychological needs and self-fulfillment needs.  I am reminded of two verses from Philippians:

         “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.” (4:11)

         “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”  (4:19)

I’m sure Maslow would not totally agree with Brother Paul, but Paul understood some things about the spiritual side of man that Maslow wasn’t completely aware of.  Over the years I have known and studied many of the men who were POWs in Vietnam.  Of course, for life they had to have the bottom tier of basic needs, but also to a man they said the thing that kept them alive, kept them going was faith.  Faith is actually a need of man.
    Back to Dresselhaus’ thoughts–he mentioned the essentials of a trip.  Now that all depends on where you are going and how long you will be there.  A person certainly wouldn’t be packing a parka for a trip to Ecuador; it would be completely useless and downright dumb.  So it is then important to pack for where you are going.
    Another thing when packing for a trip is what are some things to bring.  The necessary clothing and toiletries, notice I said necessary for when I would go elk hunting in the high country I didn’t bring along my razor and shaving soap.  When traveling I would pack a few things for a “just-in-case” situation.  Usually an axe, some rope, of course a coffeepot and that’s no good without coffee, matches, a knife, to mention a few.  If I was traveling in the winter in the north country I normally had a sleeping bag packed away.  Pack for the emergencies along the way.
    Most people pack too much for a trip.  Annie and I are getting ready for a trip back East.  We’ll be staying a month, but that doesn’t mean we need to take the closet.  No, my daughter has a washing machine that we can use so a suitcase will suffice.  I look around the house, what is something we really need and what are somethings that we enjoy, that upgrades the need.  We have a sink, so I can wash dishes, however, we also have a dishwasher where I don’t get my tender, sensitive hands all water-worn.
    Look back at the idea of where you are going.  If heaven is your destination, what do you need to take along?  First, you need to get your reservation.  Traveling to the holy city won’t do you any good without a reservation; you name must be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.  Second, you need to have the Word of God hidden in your heart so that you won’t sin against the Lord.  Vain philosophies, psychologies, books by the great thinkers, mathematical riddles and other things that folks pack are not needed along the way.  Third, take essential clothing–the armor of God must be worn.  Fourth, there are things for survival:  knowing how to use the sword of the Spirit, prayer, meditation are some essentials to take for the trip.  
    Check your spiritual pack, or suitcase.  Are you carrying things that are not needed?  Are you forgetting to take along some essential things?  You have everything you need if you have the Lord.  Nothing more, nothing less.  If death would overtake you on the trip, you die with what you need.