Out on a Limb

English preacher John Scotland often says at his meetings, “For those of you taking notes…save the trees.” This is meant to be a humorous jab at people who jot down too many notes during church services. 

Sadly there are environmentalists who do ridiculous things like chain themselves to trees they don’t want chopped down. In this creepy YouTube clip, members of a radical advocacy group are hysterically bawling over dead trees…  

Tree huggers who really want to take their cause to the extreme shouldn’t read books, live in wooden houses with wooden furniture or use paper money, Kleenex and toilet paper. If God valued trees as much as humans, He wouldn’t have told Noah to built an ark out of gopher wood (Genesis 6:14) or instructed His people to use wood for various sacrifices.

God is certainly not worried about earthly shortages. One time I was driving through Yellowstone National Park and saw a mountain range with a huge amount of trees. At that moment, the Lord spoke to my heart and reminded me of how He has supplied the earth with an abundance of natural resources.  

Yet some folks have this idea that trees are an endangered species. While in elementary school during the 1970s, I was taught a poem that went something like this…

Oh, can’t you plainly see?

That we are running out of trees?

Chop! That was the last one.

It was also around this time I watched an animated TV special called “The Lorax”, based on a Dr. Seuss book of the same name. The title character kept saying he “speaks for the trees.” A motion picture based on the book later came out in 2012. It was one of the top grossing movies of that year.

For any environmentalists reading this, please note that the Son of God died on a tree but not for a tree. When you stand before His throne, He won’t ask about how many trees you saved but if you yourself are saved.

“Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them.” - Acts 14:15

The Global Warming Gospel

Five years ago while I was walking through a business district in Bethesda, Maryland, a man from Greenpeace asked me to sign a petition to protest global warming. This man claimed the whole planet is getting warmer because of increasing carbon dioxide emissions. I responded by saying the global warming issue is a hoax and made reference to Genesis 8:22, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.” The Greenpeace activist (who I found out knew the Lord) admitted he couldn’t contest that Scripture.

Still there are activists trying to pressure people into preaching a global warming gospel. Last year the state of Maryland passed what became known as the “Rain Tax.” One Maryland county went so far as to offer churches an exemption if they preach on global warming. Over 30 churches have applied for this exemption, which could save them an average of $744 per year. Some pastors have even agreed to begin “green ministries.” Fortunately Maryland Governor-elect Larry Hogan has promised to repeal this ridiculous law.

Now there will be a time during the Great Tribulation when the world experiences increased heat as a form of judgment. Revelation 16:9 says, “And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.” 2 Peter 3:10 also points out that when the Lord returns,  “…the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” As I heard one preacher say, “I don’t believe in global warming but I believe in global melting.”

On the other hand, Isaiah 49:10 says, “They shall neither hunger nor thirst, neither heat nor sun shall strike them; For He who has mercy on them will lead them, even by the springs of water He will guide them.” Regardless of the present state of the world, God always protects His people.

I agree man should be a good steward of this earth’s resources. Nevertheless, I advise Christian environmentalists concerned about “saving the planet” to focus on a cause far more important from an eternal perspective: saving the souls of men. Or as one friend of mine suggested: “How about signing a petition against global sinning?”

“Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” - 2 Peter 3:13

Speak To Your Storms

One sign that we are living in the last days is an increase of inclement weather. This year the United States has experienced a record amount of tornadoes. The deadliest of which occurred last Sunday in Joplin, Missouri that killed scores of people.

Earlier that afternoon, another tornado hit north Minneapolis where I’ve been staying with friends. I wasn't even aware a tornado had touched down in the area until hours later after coming home from a bike ride to downtown Minneapolis. An air raid siren had been wailing but I didn't think much of it because it wasn't very loud. I figured it was due to bad weather out in the suburbs...not 20 blocks away!

Meanwhile, one of the guys I was staying with had slept in late and was awakened by the siren. In response, he simply rebuked the tornado. It lifted within five seconds! Five minutes later the sun came out and there was beautiful weather the rest of the day. After he posted this testimony on his Facebook page, several of his friends shared similar praise reports of seeing storms disappear after speaking to them.

Just in case you are skeptical of testimonies like this, here’s one you can see for yourself. Two years ago, Jeff Jansen saw a tornado approaching his ministry headquarters in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. You can hear Jeff speak and then watch the storm dissipate in this video…

Jesus said in John 14:12, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” This includes speaking to storms that threaten our lives. Look at Mark 4…

37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.

38 But He [Jesus] was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

On the other hand, we might find ourselves in storms due to our disobedience (remember Jonah?) or someone else’s like the centurion and the ship’s crew ignoring the Apostle Paul’s warning in Acts 27:10. Despite the resulting shipwreck, Paul and his fellow passengers all escaped safely to land.

Until Jesus comes back to set up His millennial reign, unstable weather will continue to occur throughout the world. So the next time a storm comes near your dwelling, remind yourself of the Greater One who lives on the inside of you. If you have full confidence that you are in the will of God, then there is no need to panic.

Speak to your storms!

“When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation.” - Proverbs 10:25 (NLT)

Green Police

Last night I watched the second half of Super Bowl XLIV on TV. Originally I wasn’t interested in viewing it at all because the Minnesota Vikings (my favorite team) just missed advancing to the big game. But I changed my mind partially because I wanted to watch the Tim Tebow commercials that promoted a pro-life message. I didn’t see the commercials live because they aired during the pregame show and the first quarter. However, another memorable commercial came on near the end of the game. It was an Audi ad featured the “Green Police” (with background music by Cheap Trick which parodies their old song “Dream Police”).

This ad could be a sign of things to come. Laws are constantly being passed to appease environmentalists. Two months ago in Washington, DC, a new law went into effect requiring businesses to charge customers an extra 5 cents for giving out plastic bags. I found out about this just before I stopped into a Subway restaurant in the nation’s capital one day for lunch. I refused to buy a plastic bag for my sandwich and ate it inside.

As stated before in this blog, I agree that man should be a good steward of this planet and its resources. But I’m getting tired of the increasing amount of advertisements urging us to “go green.” Rather than focus on saving the planet, we should be more concerned with saving humans (both the unsaved and the unborn).

“O Israel, stay away from idols! I am the one who answers your prayers and cares for you. I am like a tree that is always green; all your fruit comes from Me.” – Hosea 14:8

Mother Earth

Two days ago I stopped at Burger King for lunch. It wasn’t until after leaving the restaurant I noticed my water cup had the phrase "Be Good to Mother Earth" stamped on it. My first thought was, “Since when did this planet birth ‘little Earths’"?

I posted my reaction on Facebook and received some interesting feedback from my friends. One of them wrote, “The Church of England is getting gripped by this Save the Planet stuff, pray they will concentrate more on saving souls!” Another friend wrote, “Psalm 50:10 says for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. So, who's the real burger KING?”

Years ago at a Toastmasters meeting, I heard one speaker urging us to “love your mother” (referring to the earth). I’ve also seen bumper stickers saying the same thing. There’s one thing I need to make clear to all the environmentalists out there: The earth isn’t my mother!

Some of you may remember an old Chiffon Margarine commercial with the catchphrase, “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature.” But Romans chapter 1 points out those who worship creation instead of the creator are the real fools…

22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,

23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,

25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

I agree that man is responsible for being a good steward of this planet and its resources. But again we are commanded to worship God, not the planet or the things in it!

“The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.” - Psalm 24:1