"Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers..." (Exodus 18:21a)

Principle on the other hand is not driven by what works, but by what is right. It is a Biblical philosophy that is concerned with what is right specifically in the eyes of a Holy God to whom man must give an account on that Great Day. Principle in its purest form is the guiding tenets that are permanently fixed in what is right and wrong as God has defined these terms in His Word. Therefore, when a leader is guided by principle instead of pragmatism, the ends will never justify the means. A principled leader is convinced that the Almighty not only has a will, and a word, but a way that must be lived out. It is a leader that, despite any setback, humiliation, or temporary defeat that inevitably comes from living a principled life, will still rise or fall based upon the solid conviction of God’s immutable principles.

Ah, now there lies the rub, the very crux of the matter that creates the conflict between Pragmatism v. Principle. It is this apparent drawback, living by principle, that makes pragmatism so appealing to our spineless generation of leaders today. Most of them are willing to sacrifice what is right, even what they know deep down in their hearts to be true, in order to win. Thus winning at all costs, even at the cost of selling our most cherished values, becomes paramount and the chief value. It becomes in and of itself the primary "virtue" that is much more important than what is right, what is true, and what will last. One just has to look at the previous voting record and letters of Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Jesse Jackson, and Richard Gephart as an example of this reality. All of these men are leaders in the Democratic Party who were at one time Pro-life, but sold their souls, trashed their convictions, and covered their hands with the blood of the innocent to gain political power. That is Pragmatism at its worst, ugliest, and most cowardly manifestation. These men who once championed the cause of the unborn have, through pragmatism, become the bloody butchers on the Potomac.

Brethren, the bottom line is, ideas have consequences and a belief system will lead us somewhere. The question is where? Have we really thought through the ramifications of rejecting the eternal principles of God for the sake of pragmatism? Is it really more important to be successful in business, than to be honest in our business dealings? Do we really desire our children to follow the pop-culture crowd in order to be popular, or do we desire them to follow what is right, despite the mockery and scorn that they might endure? Do we really want preachers to tickle our ears and flatter us for the sake of "church growth" or do we want men of God to speak the truth in love to please God and convict us? Do we really want to continue to vote for the "lesser of two evils" or shall we stand principally on God’s Word?

I believe it’s high time we return from the abyss of pragmatism to the understanding that we, especially as Christians, are called to be faithful to the truth? It is God’s responsibility to determine outcome. It is God’s domain to determine results. Unfortunately, it is this very allurement of "outcome" and "results" that reveals yet another temptation for becoming a pragmatist in America. It deceives us by subtly suggesting that we, apart from God, can determine outcome and manipulate results, if we just compromise our principles a little.

Pragmatism, thus armed with its compromised strategy that is only concerned with outcome, continues to dominate America’s leadership. The fallout of this brand of waffling leadership is that they never seem to take any serious thought to the long-term ramifications of their double-minded ways. It never seems to occur to the pragmatists that they are replacing the solid, righteous foundation of God’s principles to now rebuild America’s house on shifting sand Thus, in the long run, they are simply crafting a broken cistern that will not and can not hold lasting water. A pragmatist will only succeed ultimately, according to George Washington’s quote, to implement policies that future generations will not be able to defend, for it was not established in a standard (principle) nor submitted to the Hands of God.

John Quincy Adams, another Founding Father, who also was a principled leader, as was Washington, serves as a wonderful example of the leadership that is so needed today. He was the 6th President of the United States and is the only President who, after serving two terms, returned to public service as a Congressman. He went to Congress for one purpose and that was to confront and change America’s abominable practice of slavery. For eighteen years he cried out in the halls of Congress against this affront to heaven and this sin against man. He was such a nuisance that they passed a "Gag Rule" to silence him. Undeterred, he pressed on in the righteous cause, reminding America of her founding principles articulated in the Declaration of Independence. A friend once confronted John Quincy Adams as to why he continued though most refused to listen nor change their minds concerning the liberation of our black brothers and sisters. His reply sums up the essence of this article, "Faithfulness is mine, the results belong to God." Would to God that we had Statesmen like that today!

Brothers and Sisters, it takes courage to stand for what is right and live a principled life in our age of vacillation that is based on pragmatism. But God who is rich in mercy provides us with so many wonderful examples in Holy Scripture that we can draw from to be found faithful and true in His service. Time would fail me, like the author of Hebrews, to recount them all. Suffice it to say that the Bible is replete with men and women who stood principally for the Lord, His word, His will, and His ways, even to their own hurt. We thrill to the account of Daniel’s courage in the lion’s den as he stood faithfully by the Law of his God. We are amazed at the moral fortitude of the three Hebrew young men as they faced a fiery furnace for standing principally against the idolatry of their age. We are awestruck by the approach of Esther before the king, knowing that she could be sentenced to death, yet went forth principally anyway declaring, "If I perish, I perish." We teach in our Sunday Schools the example of the Apostles who boldly stood against religious tyranny. These men of God who, though threatened with beatings, jail, and death, still continued to principally preach and teach in the name of Jesus Christ.

"FETAL PARTS FOR SALE" GUEST COLUMN

Though altered a bit by the editor of the Waco tribune, it was published in our local newspaper just recently. If interested, you can make copies and submit it to your local newspaper as an editorial as well.

"And I will put enmity between [the serpent] and the woman, and between [his] offspring and hers..."  (Genesis 3:15)

Whether you realize it or not, you are in a WAR. There is a BATTLE raging right now between you and the enemy for the control of your children -- indeed, for their very lives. One-third of that target has already been slaughtered, more are being taken each day, and he's not stopping until he has yours. In fact, he's in the war to the DEATH. The question is, are you?

For 27 years now in America, we have allowed Satan to kill our children, to steal our blessings, and to destroy our artillery. He has gained ground in our nation, our cities, our churches, and even our homes because we have readily conceded the truth of God's Word for the lies of the "professionals" and "experts" who tell us they "know best." And as long as we continue in our present state of compromise and cowardice -- content to remain in the comfort of our homes, maintain the security of our sheltered lives, keep the gospel inside the church, and stick to the pattern of our day-to-day business (while carefully avoiding any confrontation that might "rock the boat") -- we in effect surrender the culture, the nation, and the next generation to the archenemy of Jesus Christ.

There is HOPE. (Jer. 29:11-14)

There is a REMNANT. (Romans 11:4-5)

There is a VISION. (Ps. 127, Mal. 4:6)

God asks, "Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?" (Psalm 94:16). It's time for every Christian to come forward and say, "I will!" It's time to take the theology of the church house and make it biography in the streets. It's time to stop only playing defense and start playing offense. It's time to stop hiding in fear for our lives and instead be willing to lay them down for the sake of our children and grandchildren after us. It's time to equip ourselves with the armor God has provided and run to the roar of the battle. It's time to do serious damage to the gates of hell.

God is calling you to fight for Him. Answer the call. Come join us in St. Louis during the week of July 30 - August 5 as we bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gateway of the West. Dads and moms, come see God move as we focus on handing down the Cross of Christ to our children -- instilling into their hearts God's destiny and inspiring them with our courage and example. Young people, come take a stand for the Truth of God's Word by living out your faith in the streets and learning how to "contend...for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you" (Philippians 1:27-28). During the days we will engage the enemy by shining forth the light of the Gospel into the dark places, exposing the lies of the devil, and offering life and hope through Jesus Christ to those in the gates of death. In the evenings we will gather for a time of praise and worship, testimonies, and Biblical exhorting and training by dynamic speakers. This is an event you do not want to miss -- it will change your life!

In our last newsletter, we announced a comprehensive pro-life vision called OPERATION FULL COURT PRESS.

Already other cities are adopting and implementing this vision at their local death camps. Brothers and Sisters in Waco, those of you who take the time to read our newsletter, your help is still needed. There are four teams that need laborers to make this ministry successful. We need to staff a Praise and Worship team, an Intercession team, and two

So far this year, we have three KLI’s scheduled. The first will start June 4th-10th in Wichita, Kansas. The second is tentatively set for June 18th-24th in Chicago, Illinois. The third is scheduled on July 9th-15th in Kathleen, Georgia. Our summer is filling up, so if you are interested in establishing the KLI in your city, please contact us immediately so we can make the necessary arrangements. We do have a need for some up-front financing to help with traveling arrangements, purchasing a supply of notebooks, and to have our new T-shirt design ready for each KLI candidate.

It is time to gear up once again for the global March for Jesus. By God’s grace and strength, we have committed to organize this years event. It will commence on Saturday, June 10th. We will need plenty of volunteers to help prepare the way of the Lord to march in the streets of Waco. If interested in being a servant that will aid the March’s success please contact me immediately. Thanks!