Berit Kjos writes:

Obama didn't lie when he promised CHANGE.

He just didn't define the Change. Nor did he explain the basis for his HOPE.

Today, with a bit more hindsight, the fog is lifting and we see the immediate future much more clearly. Both words imply a shift away from the foundational truths and values of America. As Communist nations have determined, man's hope must rest in a useful worldly vision, not in the disturbing distraction of the Biblical God or other-worldly heaven.

Today, HOPE and CHANGE point to a New World Order -- a virtual utopia where the masses would eventually enjoy peace, pluralism, parity and the promise of universal welfare. Both slogans serve as bait to draw the masses into a web of deception.

As in Orwell's Animal Farm, today's spreading tentacles of Marxian/ Socialism imply two classes of people: the equally poor masses and their wealthy "more equal" rulers. While the latter reign in luxury, the equally poor, the new "middle class" often struggle to feed their families.

An article in the Russian Pravda titled "American Capitalism gone with a Whimper" spreads a somber view of this nation. Unlike its old Soviet-era namesake, this new Pravda may actually be telling the truth. It reminds us that the current transformation of America, which has now become all too visible, actually began long ago:

"...the American descent into Marxism is happening with breath taking speed, against the back drop of a passive, hapless sheeple.... The initial testing grounds was conducted upon our Holy Russia and a bloody test it was.... Those lessons were taken and used to properly prepare the American populace for the surrender of their freedoms and souls, to the whims of their elites and betters.'

"First, the population was dumbed down through a politicized and substandard education system based on pop culture.... Americans know more about their favorite TV dramas than the drama in DC that directly affects their lives. They care more for their 'right' to choke down a McDonalds burger... than for the rights given in the Constitution.

Then their faith in God was destroyed, until their churches... were for the most part little more than Sunday circuses and their televangelists and top protestant mega preachers were more than happy to sell out their souls and flocks to be on the 'winning' side of one pseudo Marxist politician or another....

The final collapse came through the election of Barack Hussein Obama. His spending and money printing has been record setting, not just in America but around the world. America at best will soon resemble the Wiemar Republic; at worst Zimbabwe....

And proud American will go down into slavery without a fight, beating their chest and proclaiming to the world "we are free."

and the world snickers."

" ...when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them... when your heart is lifted up and you forget the Lord your God. ... you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’... Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the Lord your God, and follow other gods... you shall surely perish. As the nations which the Lord destroys before you, so you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of the Lord your God." Deuteronomy 8:12-14, 17, 19-20

God and truth are inseparable. Francis Schaeffer calls this true truth the unchanged and unchanging expression of who God is: it is not our own personal and arbitrary interpretation of reality."

We can become angered by it, we can ignore it or bend it, but that will not change what it is.

"The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." John 6:63

To those who would doubt, He said: "If you do not believe that I AM He, you will die in your sins." John 8:24

Defending truth takes courage, commitment and a relentless determination to contend earnestly for the faith. Our LORD demands nothing less from His children. But, be aware ~

"If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you. 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My Name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me." John 15:18-21

If one is interested in Christianity in any sort of serious way, it is not because it is easy, or trendy, or popular. Life is hard, and on man' scale many appear good, but being a 'true' follower of Jesus is the hardest thing you will ever do.

"Take care brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day as long as it is still Today so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance until the end. Today, if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts..." Hebrews 3:12-15

We are living in perilous times, surrounded by false religions, false doctrines and false teachers. The world we inhabit is harsh, cruel, narcissistic, image based and a people pleasing phony - but God.

"And Jesus said to them: 'Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.'" Mark 1:17

Cheap grace is a deadly enemy of the Church.

Grace without a price; grace without a cost. We suppose the account has been paid in advance and, because it has, everything can be had for nothing. The "Christian" today lives like the rest of the world, modeling himself on the world' standards - rebelling against the free and boundless grace of God, enjoying the consolations of grace without repenting of sin, departing from sin and allowing sin to depart from him.

Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, grace without His Word.

Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will gladly go and sell all that he has, it is the pearl of great price, the kingly rule of Christ in our lives. The call of Jesus Christ to come - at which the disciple leaves all and follows Him.

Costly grace cost God the life of His Son, it will cost a man his life as well, yet it is grace that will return true life to that same man; condemning sin, justifying the sinner. Costly grace confronts us as a gracious call to follow Him. It comes as a word of forgiveness to the broken spirit and contrite heart, compelling a man to submit to the yoke and come.

[The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer]

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house, and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell and great was it's fall." Matthew 7:24-28

If we are interested in Christianity in any sort of serious way, it is not because it is easy or trendy or popular. It is because we recognize our sinful nature, desire to change and recognize that we are powerless to do so apart from Jesus. It is His power, His love and His life alone that will set us free.

"Come unto Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I AM gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

Look on each and every sin committed as the one that nailed our Saviour to the tree. Then you will see sin as it truly is.