Well, they have done it now. Last night ABC Television Network counted down the Top Ten ways life on earth will end. The program was called "Last Days On Earth".

Isn't it almost unbelievable what American television does for entertainment. Dick Clark or David Letterman didn't even go that far to get an audience. Besides, if life on earth comes to an end, who is going to be around to watch ABC Television anyway?

I walked into the room and my daughter was watching "Number 4 -- A Giant Asteroid Hits The Planet". Caught my attention. They said it would kill us all -- ouch! Then they took a commercial break to get us to spend some money and introduced: "Number 3 -- Nuclear War".

I think they said that even 8 full-strength nuclear missils would probably end life on earth. The US and Russia still possess tens of thousands of armed, ready-to-launch nuclear missiles -- talk about overkill (or down right insanity)!

Then came "Number 2 -- Plague". But this isn't the ole fashioned plague from the Middle Ages. The is the new fangled kind that has "super germs" which have been strengthened by modern science. According to ABC, these mad-scientist intensified germs can kill us all if they should escape from the lab. Whoa! That was enough for me. I used the "F" (flee) from "F.L.E.A." and fled. I got out of the TV room. My wife and daughter joined me seconds later.

The fact is that there are real dangers facing our society and we should be concerned. Last night ABC asked 6 or 7 people what they would do if a giant asteroid was about to strike the earth. Most people joked about it: "I'd eat all I want." Two people seriously said they would have a child -- now that would be a spectacular baby shower.

One man, however, said: "I would be on my knees praying." Good answer! But let's don't wait. We desperately need to pray for our society. Millions of people are hopeless and discouraged. Millions are angry. Millions are violent. Millions are homeless. Millions are spending their energy accumulating meaningless "stuff". Millions are carelessly spreading STD's. Millions are hiding behind drugs and alcohol. Yes, we need to pray -- now!

Oh, God, have mercy on us. We have made a mess of our lives and our society. We have been so arrogant to think we are running things well, when in reality we have brought ourself and our society to the verge of self-destruction. Please forgive us. And please help us to turn away from our sins and turn to you the Living God. Please God, bring supernatural revival and spiritual awakening to our country, before it is too late. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

"To keep your character in tact you cannot stoop to filthy acts. It makes it easier to stoop the next time." --Katherine Hepburn

"I have long sense come to believe that people never mean half of what they say and it is best to disregard their talk and judge only their actions." --Dorothy Day

Excuse me? Isn't that impossible? How can "nothing + time = everything"? Who would believe such a silly thing?

Scientists. Teachers. Politicians. Boards of Education. Government officials. Business leaders. Probably the majority of people in our society at least say they believe the formula: "nothing + time = everything." In fact, if you question that formula nowadays, you are considered to be "unscientific," "superstitious," "religious," or even "ignorant."

Why has the formula, "nothing + time = everything", risen to the level of "political correctness" and "accepted fact" when in reality it is nothing but a blind act of faith in an impossible idea? Common sense tells us that nothing can come from nothing. Calling a crazy idea "science" does not make it true, anymore than calling a worm a "bird" makes it fly.

The label of "Science" does not make something true anymore than the label of "Religion" makes something true. Reality exists no matter what we label it to be. Myths of "science" are no more true than "religious" myths.

No human being has ever created "life" and yet we have the arrogance to claim that life "just happened". Get real. Some of our modern myths are more unbelievable that the myths of primitive people. Yet we are constantly pressured to go along with "nothing + time = everything". Sorry. Irrational! That makes no sense whatsoever to my logical mind.

Time may "heal all wounds" but how could time possibly create everything? Modern "science" pushes an irrational idea down our throats and if we don't dance to its tune we are called "ignorant". What ever happened to old fashioned "freedom of belief"?

To "say grace" means to pray over a meal. "Grace" is sometimes a woman's name. "Amazing Grace" may be the most popular hymn of all time. But what does "grace" mean?

The most common and popular definition seems to be: "unmerited favor". In most Christian circles this is taken to mean "the right to go to Heaven when you die, based on telling people ('making a public confession') that you believe in Jesus".

After my post yesterday morning this definition of "grace" dropped into my mind." G.--God's, R.--Righteous, A.--Attributes, C.--Continually, E.--Expressed (in our lives). One thing for sure, grace is not earned. Whatever it is, it is given freely.

I guess the question is: Is grace for when you die (to get you into Heaven) or is grace for this earthly life (to enable you to live your life in a Christian lifestyle)? Maybe grace is not "either-or". Maybe it is both. Maybe if you have received genuine grace, you not only will go to Heaven when you die, but you will also live a godly, moral lifestyle here and now. If all I have is the right to enter Heaven after I die, but I can't or won't obey God on earth, maybe I don't really have God's grace at all. Is that possible?

Like the song says: "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me." The writer, John Newton (a former slave trader) is saying that he is no longer living a wretched lifestyle. Amazing grace didn't just give him a future in Heaven, but changed his way of life on earth. Now that is grace--a changed lifestyle!

I want to have God's Righteous Attributes Continually Expressed in my life. But I can't earn a Christian lifestyle. I need supernatural power in order to obey Jesus daily. I can't do it by myself--I must have grace in order to live godly. But when God gives me His grace--when God opens the door, I must go through. I must not excuse sin in myself by saying: "I'm going to Heaven anyway so my sin doesn't matter."

One final question: If grace cannot save us from the power and dominion of sin in this earthy life, why do we suppose it can get us into a pure and holy Heaven?

An angel told Joseph that Jesus would "save His people from their sins." That is a concept you don't hear much about today (even in churches) -- being saved from your sins.

We hear a lot about being saved into Heaven. In fact, many people think that "going to Heaven" is the sum total of Christianity -- just getting people through the "pearly gates". Jesus didn't see it that way though. In the "Lord's Prayer" or the "Our Father", Jesus taught us to pray: "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven." According to Jesus, Christians are suppose to pray for God's will to be done here on earth, just like it is in Heaven. And that begins, not in governments or in religious organizations; but in my life and in your life. According to Jesus' prayer, you and I need to do the will of God here on earth. Now that is radical!

For us to obey God daily, we must be saved from our sins. If we are in bondage to self-destruction and rebellion, we won't do God's will. In other words, Christianity is a lifestyle. It is a lifestyle of moral purity, freedom from self-destructive behaviors, and victorious daily living as we demonstrate to others the love and character Christ.

You believe good doctrine. The Bible says the devils also believe and even "tremble". You have had an experience with God. Spiritual experiences are fairly common. But here is the key to genuine Christianity: Are you living a Christian lifestyle? Are you saved from your sins?

Why do Christians concern ourselves so much about Heaven and ignore obeying God on earth? Isn't it time for us Christians to begin to daily live what we say we believe?

Maybe we should quit asking the question: "Am I going to Heaven?" And start asking: "Am I obeying God today? Am I being led by the Spirit moment by moment? Am I giving my life in service and love to others?"