What Do I Do Now?

 

"For nation will rise against nation." (Matthew 24:7)

I believe the majority of peace loving people today are sick and tired of the trouble on the news. Tired of the semantics and rhetoric. Tired of the looting. Tired of people burning cars and buildings. Tired of freeways being overtaken by protesters, dragging innocent people from their cars, often beating them. Tired of the long-standing racism and violence in this country. Tired of people murdering other people. Tired of all the blame and accusation. Tired of the media and political circus.

The phrase that troubles me as a Caucasian American Christian is, "white silence."

Who knows what this phrase means to most people, or how it originated. But I'm thinking about my own personal responsibility. "What do I do now?" 

I will not be silent. 

But the question is, what needs to be said?

Some say, "People need to behave better."

That's obvious. I think we all agree on that. Everyone needs to behave better.

People need to stop being racist. No doubt. Not just a few police officers. Everyone. We all know why better behavior is needed. The question however, is not why.

It's How.

Throughout recorded history there has been murder, hatred, violence, racism, injustice. We all know this is wrong. No one likes it. We all want it to stop. 

So why does it continue? The problem isn't knowledge. 

The problem is Sin.

Six thousand years of world history proves that mankind cannot solve its sin problem on its own. Mankind says, "I got this!" 

But that doesn't seem to be working very well—does it. 

Let the evidence speak for itself. 

As far back as history reveals race has risen up against race, or nation against nation. Consider the tens of millions of Jews killed by Stalin and Hitler. Or the "ethnic cleansing" atrocities committed all over the world. The imprisonment of Japanese Americans, put in internment camps during World War II, simply because of the color of their skin. The systematic killing and removal of Native American Indians from their land and homes so European settlers could have all the 'free land' they wanted. Most of the marginalized Native American people still live on Reservations to this day. And of course the unspeakable, shameful enslavement of African people, de-humanized and bought and sold as products. The consequences and pain of these atrocities are strongly felt to this day.

The racial divide in America seems worse than it's been in the last fifty years. I am sixty-one and I have been witnessing and learning about this all my life. And I don't believe I am alone in stating that man's ways of fixing this are not working. 

I believe most people know what the problem is.

So what is the answer?

People's hearts need to be changed. 

Their sin problem needs to be healed. But people have proven they cannot behave better on their own. They cannot stop sinning.

That is why Jesus Christ came down and said 'I will be the solution to your sin problem.'

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed."

(Luke 4:18)

Jesus Christ the Savior didn't come down to save a world that doesn't need saving. 

So the question all people need to ask themselves is:

"Am I willing to acknowledge that I am a sinner and that I cannot solve my sin problem on my own?"

 Until people are willing do that, racism will continue in this nation, and in this world.

Jesus came to set free all those who are oppressed by their own sin. Who are captives of their own hard hearts of unbelief. Again, world history proves that mankind is unable to save itself. To free itself of its sin. 

Jesus said:

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed." (John 3:16-20)

To get the new heart that only Jesus can give the answer is not how.

It's Who.

Jesus is the only one who can save us from our sins.

He said:

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

God is Love, and Love is a Person; Jesus Christ.

Call out to Him today. He will answer you. It's personal. It's intimate. It's urgent.

He is our Everlasting Father, the Mighty God. He is the Prince of Peace.

What do I do now?

I will continue to proclaim and speak out, of the love, peace, hope and salvation found only in Jesus Christ.


I cannot be silent.




—God is Love and Love Never Fails.

 

Seed Planters

 

 "Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" 

(Esther 4:14)

You never know how God wants to use you. 

I was encouraging my wife today about how God will use her love, devotion and faithfulness of many years spent teaching her four-year-old little 'Lambies' in Sunday School who their Savior Jesus is, for such a time as this—going through a very scary season of the global pandemic Corona Virus. 

One month ago she had no way of knowing that our world, our nation, and our children would have to go through this difficult time. None of us knew. 

This will change our world similar to how the events of 9/11 changed our world. And right now, we have no idea of just how much that change will be.

But the seeds God used her to plant along the way for His glory will sprout and grow up into all He foreordained them to be. He used her to sow seeds of His love, truth and Gospel. Praise God!

Another seed God planted was forty-eight years ago when He used my junior high school best friend; Eric Delap, to preach the Gospel to me. I was spending the night as I often did at his house. We spent many days together exploring, hunting and fishing Klamath Lake and the surrounding forests and marshes of the Klamath Basin. Eric was a very dear friend to me when I needed one most.

 (My best friend, Eric DeLap, 1972)

For whatever reason, I was a pretty sad and lonely kid in my school life. My home life was good for the most part. But I had really bad skin and was a painfully shy introvert. I didn't do well in school and I had zero self confidence as a person. It was hard for me to pay attention in class.

I don't remember the exact day that Eric changed and became a "Jesus freak", as they were affectionately called in those days. But he had a very captive and willing audience in me. I didn't understand everything that he was awkwardly preaching to me out of his shiny new Bible. But I understood enough to know that I was a sinner who desperately needed the love and saving grace of a loving Savior. I knew I needed Jesus. I believed the Gospel and prayed the prayer of salvation to receive Jesus Christ.

Sadly, I didn't have the opportunity to go to a church then and be rightly discipled and taught. So I more or less fell away, then we moved out of state. Away from my best friend and the beautiful Klamath Basin country that I loved.

And though for many years I didn't truly understand that I was already saved and born again as a seventh grader, God had planted seeds and His calling in me that would begin to bloom later on, after years of the fires of adversity, suffering, and learning through the consequences of life's many failures and setbacks.

The dear person God used to plant more seeds and lead me back to my Savior Jesus was my sweet Mom. She never gave up praying for me and encouraging me to come to Jesus, even though at first I wanted absolutely nothing to do with Him. But she remained faithful to keep sharing His love and Word with me.

 

(Mom and me, November 9, 1992) 

After my Dad died in 1992 I 'went south', to put it lightly. I left my wife and was in an adulterous affair. I hurt every person in my life that I was supposed to care about. Through my stupidity and selfishness I left a huge wake of destruction. I wish I could undo all the harm that I caused.

But God never gives up on us. He is always trying to draw us back to Himself through His grace, love and kindness. And He used my Mom a great deal in that redeeming work of His grace in my life. Throughout the next several years He led me back to Himself and healed my broken life and marriage. My wife and I are still happily and miraculously married after thirty three years as of this writing. That was only possible through the power of God's amazing love, grace and forgiveness! Glory to Him!

Never despise the day of small beginnings.

We may be doing something that we believe God called us to do and it may seem like nothing is happening. Not many people appear to be responding. It may seem like no one is listening. No one cares.

"Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"  (Esther 4:14)

Through a former client, who encouraged me to start a blog after I lost my job in 2010, God began to call me to start writing. I stumbled my way through building my first blog website, and prayed a lot asking God what He wanted me to write. Once I started I couldn't stop! He used this little Love Never Fails blog to help me find my voice. And I soon discovered that basically everything He had me write was meant for me to read and heed first. He was ministering to me through this blog. Sure, I was ministering to others and sharing my testimony and had a heart to want to help people.

But as always, I am the one in the most need of His help.

Now here we are ten years later, and God helped me to write and publish my first book: "A Letter From My Father." And I believe it is for such a time as this. In a time of unprecedented fear, uncertainty and worry, to point people to God as Father. To encourage His people. To share the Savior Jesus Christ and His Gospel with the lost. And to give hope to all who are afraid and suffering.

 

In terms of numbers, not a lot of people appear to be reading the book thus far. I have no way of knowing if this book will have a huge impact on the people I want so desperately to reach out to in Christ's love and encourage them.

A brother once said; 

     "We're not responsible for peoples response—were only responsible to be faithful".

That comforts me. 

But Jesus came to seek and save the lost. And that is, or should be, the driving force of love behind everything we do and say. 

It is for me anyway.

In terms of timing, I had no way of knowing a little over a month ago when my book was published that a global pandemic would be sweeping the earth. That people the world over would soon be living in panic and fear. Many without hope.

And yet, in such a time as this, my Father God used a not-too-educated, simple person like me to plant seeds of hope, grace, love and salvation through making a way when there seemed to be no way, for me to write and publish a book pointing people to Him as their Everlasting Father.

The results are up to Him.

However I would ask that if you haven't already, please read the book then share it with others. 

We're all just seed planters.

Others water.

But Father God gives the increase.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/173437120X/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=a+letter+from+my+father&qid=1581637434&s=books&sr=1-6

"In a world where there are no perfect fathers, imagine how your relationship with God would change if you knew He wrote a letter to you so you could know Him more deeply and more personally. So that you would know His Fatherly love, care and promises to you.God didn't give us the Scriptures so that we can know the Bible cover to cover. He gave us the Bible so that we can know Him. Author Mark Faulkner weaves his own story into the pages of this book of a lifelong journey of knowing God as His Father."

A Letter From My Father: Knowing God as Father Through Reading the Bible as His Letter to Us Paperback – February 12, 2020

by Mark Faulkner (Author)

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Keep Looking UP!

 

  "The disciples came to Him privately, saying, “what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3)

     Today people are in a frenzied panic, clearing grocery store shelves of toilet paper, hand sanitizer and water because they are looking only at the immediate looming problem; albeit a global pandemic. 

     I won't even mention the name of the specific virus because everyone on the planet has already heard it repeated every five seconds on the news and Internet.

     Yesterday I was getting freaked out a little by the local and national state of emergencies being issued. Not because I'm afraid of getting sick, or even dying. What scares me are hordes of crazy people with guns robbing people and invading our homes looking for food and toilet paper. That's the real Zombie Apocalypse.

     Seriously though, we who belong to Jesus Christ should not live in fear, even in frightening times such as these. Why? Because God has promised us some amazing promises:

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

     And this: 

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” (John 14:1-4)

     And:

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

     Read the entire Bible—the Letter from my Father—and you will find thousands of comforting and encouraging promises from God to His people.

     Besides all that, God told us in advance of the signs of the times signaling the end of the age, and His Second Coming. So while things like the current pandemic are very alarming, we shouldn't be caught by surprise when they do occur. Here Jesus talks about the specific signs preceding His return:

"And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." (Matthew 24:6-8)

'Hundreds of millions of desert locusts swarmed into Kenya from Ethiopia and Somalia, decimating farmland, threatening the food supply of tens of millions' (National Geographic, 2/14/2020).

'The national Earthquake Information Center now locates about 20,000 earthquakes each year, or approximately 55 per day.' (www.usgs.gov)

'Rumors of wars' with Iran and North Korea flood the news and Internet on a continuing basis.

"115 Million people are on the brink of starvation worldwide.' (UN, 4/12/2019)

     Jesus warned His people of the signs of the times that will signal the end of the age and His Second Coming. Knowing that, we should be aware of these things and be looking up, excitedly anticipating His return!

     When we allow ourselves to focus on, get distracted and bogged down by, and even afraid of the things happening in this fallen world today, we take our eyes off Jesus and His promises in the Bible. 

     And that is not a good witness to the sea of lost souls all around us.

     In troubled times we who put faith in Christ should be people who are living in confidence in our Savior, loving one another, full of hope, ready to help, loving the unlovable. Forgiving those who wrong us. 

     People are watching us. Seeing how we react to the times we are living in. How we respond to trouble in our lives. Are we walking what we talk? 

     Point people to Jesus Christ. The whole world needs the Savior. 

     Scary times like we are living in tend to bring the people to their knees who were once so self confident and who didn't previously see their need for God.

     God is calling them.

     But they won't know the Gospel unless we share it with them.

"How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:14-15)

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/173437120X/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=a+letter+from+my+father&qid=1581637434&s=books&sr=1-6

A Letter From My Father Published

My new book, "A Letter From My Father" has been over 45 years in the making.

However, I first wrote about that specific topic here on my blog on July 29, 2018.

Writing a book has been a dream of mine since I was a kid. It became a greater desire when I had a creative writing class for summer school in my senior year of high school in 1977.

I loved reading Hemingway's short stories of Nick Lyons fly fishing for trout in Big Two-Hearted River. My writing teacher had a wonderful gift of seeing the potential in each of her students and carefully encouraging it out of us.

While it has been my life-long dream to write a book someday, I didn't think it would ever actually happen. It just seemed too far out of reach. I think it's that nagging voice from the past that tries to tell you, "You'll never be good enough."

When God led me to start this little blog in 2010 He began to help me find my voice. And though it's clearly evident I'm not an English major, I love to pour my heart for God out in my writing, such as it is.

Several of my friends encouraged me over the years to write a book, even to possibly compile this blog into some sort of a book. I will be eternally grateful to all of you for all of your prayers, patience and encouragement along the way.

My own father wrote me a vignette of personal letters, the last of which was much the inspiration for writing my book.

My passion and desire for the book is that many will come to know God as their Everlasting Father; personally and intimately. I believe God did not give us His Word just so that we can 'know the Bible cover to cover'.

He gave us the Bible so that we can know Him.

Anyway, please read the book for yourself. I'd love to hear your comments and reviews.

Please note; I am in no way lessening the importance of studying the Scriptures. On the contrary, I believe it is exponentially more important to study God's Word as His letter to us, and not as one would study a college textbook. His Letter to us is alive. It's personal. It's intimate. It's powerful. It's prophetic. It's eternal.

My early years of trying to study the Bible like I did a text book never really brought me much closer to a closer relationship with God.

The book is available in paperback on Amazon.com. And in e-book edition in the Kindle Store.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/173437120X/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=a+letter+from+my+father&qid=1581637434&s=books&sr=1-6

To God the Father be all glory!



—God is Love and Love Never Fails.