160320 Palm Sunday Teaching Part 2

What did that take? In JCOP, pp. 99-280 recount the last two weeks of Jesus's life on earth. [The event of the thirteenth and fourteenth of Nisan are documented in more detail that any other two days in the entire Word of God. This alone should demonstrate to us the vital necessity of rightly dividing these records with minute accuracy. if God thought these two days important enough to merit such full reporting, then surely we can consider them important enough to merit our careful scrutiny. Jesus Christ Our Passover, Dr. V.P. Wierwille, American Christian Press, 1980, p. 281] After a full day, Monday night was the Last supper, which included a lot of teachings. 1. Walk to Garden for prayer - Apostles exhausted. 2. Soldiers come, fall back, healing 3. Before Annas - some beatings 4. Peter's first three denials. and cock crows. 5. Before Caiapas with Sanhedrin, beaten and mocked 6. Death sentence and more torture 7. Peter's second three denials, cock crows again, this time Jesus sees. 8. Dawn, taken to Pilate, beaten again 9. Send Herod. Beaten again. 10.Sent back to Pilate, vote sent to crowd, who chooses Barabbas 11.Beaten so that he could not stand anymore 12.That took another day and dawn comes again. 13.Lead out with two others at 9am. 14.Two more were led out at noon. He had not slept in 60 hours and more than half of that time was painful torture, but he still had the presence of mind to take care of his mother! He also witnessed to one of the guys hanging next to him, and he obeyed God in everything he did. 1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. When we are healthy, we are more apt to speak the Word. 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Do you enjoy your righteousness when you are sick? Remember, sickness is a curse! Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Why do we talk about these horrible things? Because nothing comes for free! [I received a 'free' hat.] Everything cost somebody something, and valuable things cost a lot! Not one bone was broken, but every other injury was inflicted. He was marred beyond human recognition so that we can be healed. 1 Corinthians 11:23-30 23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. The New Birth is a gift, a valuable gift that came with a high price. Don't waste it by accepting sickness and weakness. Recognize that you have been forgiven through the shed blood! Recognize that you have been healed! All that torture that went on for a day and a half covered all the sickness and injury you will ever have! Allow yourself to be healed! Allow yourself to be blessed by God, because Jesus paid it all.

160321 Palm Sunday Teaching Part 1

Most Christians are rather familiar with the meaning of the shed blood. They understand forgiveness of sins, and some even know how remission differentiates from forgiveness, but few give a thought to the broken body. What is the broken body? Why is the broken body important? What do we learn by studying the broken body? Do you believe that the Bible is the revealed Word and Will of God? Does God mean what He says? Malachi 3:6 (6) For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. [When the Corinthian church was manifesting sickness, division, and strife, Paul did not applaud them for their sickness. He did not say, "it is a sign of God's love that your are sick." Nor did Paul say, "ear your sickness patiently, for God is trying you." The Apostle Paul, according to the epistle to the Corinthians, rebuked them and endeavored to correct them for being sick. He rebuked them not as individuals but as a congregation. as Christians, because they did not properly discern the Lord's body. They did not realize that Jesus, who was sacrificed on the cross of Calvary, had accomplished something for them in his body. Paul pointed out that it was no longer necessary to suffer sickness and disease. Bible Tells Me So, Dr. V.P. Wierwille, American Christian Press, 1999, pp. 86,87] Ill health is a curse according to Deuteronomy 28:15,22,27,28,35,60,61. This was the law administration. We live in the Grace administration, and have been redeemed from the WHOLE Curse. Galatians 3:13 (13) Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: Psalms 105:37 (37) He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes. How does that happen? How do 2.5 millions servants become well at the same time? Are we servants of God or His children? Do you treat the people who work for you better than you do your children? If you are sick or feeble or somehow not getting what God has promised, then ask yourself, Why? Is it God's fault, or is it on your end? In the Passover, and in the Last Supper, God told people to do two things: Blood and Body. [explain] If God can heal 2.5 million people in one day, can He heal the nine of us right here and right now? Matthew 8:17 (17) That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. JC took our sicknesses. We don't own them anymore! 1 Corinthians 5:7 (7) Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: The lamb of Passover was a shadow of things to come, a shadow of reality. Christ was far, far more valuable than a little lamb. Romans 5:13 (13) (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. The word 'imputed' is used twice. ἐλλογέω ellogeō el-log-eh'-o From G1722 and G3056 (in the sense of account); to reckon in, that is, attribute: - impute, put on account. Total KJV occurrences: 2 Philemon 18 (18) If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; Why did we need to have anything put on our account? The first man, Adam, was a sinless human, right up until that moment where he sinned! His sin was passed from father to son, and increased with each generation. (Life is in the blood, Leviticus 17:11) Romans 5:17 (17) For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; [The sin of Adam multiplied with geometric progression through the thousands of years since Adam let that one little sin into his life.] ... much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) The second man, Jesus Christ, resisted the Devil and maintained his sinless state. He always did the Father's will, and thus became the perfect Passover Lamb. He was more perfect than any animal could ever be. Then, by his free will, he suffered and endured ALL the consequences for the sin of Adam.

Communist Manifesto - a Leading College Read

Communist Manifesto

I read it when I was 16, but it was one of several texts that confirmed for me that Socialism and Communism were unworkable. I remember thinking, "It sounds like a nice idea, but human nature would prevent it from ever working." Years later, while studying the Word of God, I realized that Marx had given a secular version of Acts 2:42-46. Without the benefit of an underlying set of godly values and love for one another, "sharing" becomes a vehicle ripe for abuse and control because giving is no longer a free will choice under socialism. As much as some people dislike Christianity, and as much as some churches assert, the Bible says sharing is a choice: 

2 Corinthians 9:7
(7) Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity...

For more than forty years, I have opposed Communism. In 1975, I started learning Russian in order to see into their national thought and to study their history. I have met and talked with several immigrants and defectors. Because of this, I taught my children to dissect Progressive slogans. Freedom seems like a no-brainer for me, but far too many who already have freedom want to throw it away for a seemingly nice idea that won't work.

160127 Pro-Choice and Pro-Life

I taught my children the Word of God, and that they should think for themselves. Although it was a surprise, it was perfectly in character for my daughter to slap a Gary Johnson sticker on the back of her car in 2012. Since Gary announced his candidacy recently, I expect to see another one on her second car. If my younger daughter had a car, she'd probably put something like, "When you speak, I always here 'Punch me in the face,' but it's usually subtext." She's wordy like that, and hates politics.

Why do some people assume that because Person A supports Option A, that it automatically puts Person A into Catagory C? All my life, this kind of muddled thinking has frustrated me. Since the 1980s, which was the last time any idiot shot an abortionist, someone has tried to tell me how stupid I was to support the Pro-Life cause. The person(s) telling me this just assumed that I was going to go out and shoot an abortion doctor because I happen to confess Jesus as Lord in my life.

• First of all, labels are lazy shortcuts that let people get angry without thinking.
• Second, every person has to determine in his or her own heart and mind whether to believe anything. Smart people avoid blanket statements.
• Third, very few people, even among Christians, actually know what the Bible says about most subjects. Even if they can quote something, most forsake context and the most basic principles of research.
• Fourth, it behooves the Christian to study and to follow those who have worked even more diligently to unlock what God said. God did not give His Word in English, so we each need to learn Aramaic and study Classical Greek to find out what God really said.

Abortion is a complicated subject, but the loudest people reduce it to slogans and support politicians who agree with the slogans. Slogans circumvent thinking. That's why I hate labels. Forget labels and think about the words themselves. Everyone should be pro-life, because we all have a right to live. We should all be pro-choice, even if the choices of others disagree with the choices we ourselves would make. (For instance, while I agree with many Libertarian ideals, I will not be voting for Gary Johnson.)

Just because I am pro-life does not mean that I disagree with the death penalty, as more than one commenter has touted. Some people have proven their inability to judge between right and wrong. The Bible trumpets forgiveness, but also supports the death penalty in certain cases. Just because I am pro-choice doesn't mean that I agree with getting an abortion. Abortion is heart-breaking, and the costs verses the benefits should be weighed very carefully. This is an individual decision, not a legislative one.

Do you know what a "spontanious abortion" is? It is, or it used to be, a medical term for a miscarriage. A spontanious abortion occurs when a woman's own body detects that a fetus is not viable. This happened to me four times. I wanted those children, but my body refused. The Bible says that children are blessings. Some people just don't want to be blessed. Those are their choices. They don't have to be blessed. We'll all be much happier if we just let people make their own choices and deal with their own consequences instead of trying to make 'moral' laws. Legislatively forcing morality may in itself be immoral. That also goes for the environmental issues that some view as moral, but that's another story.

160126 Dearth

Once I decided to write more, I wrote less. I added someone to my Live Journal that I regret. I could just delete her from my feed, but then I'd be doing what I dislike about what others do when they hear diverse opinions. I guess it's the haughty, "I'm right, and you're stupid" attitude she exudes. She's right because it feels evolved, and not so stuck in the mud of human history. We humans recycle this attitude every eighty years or so, and my 90 year old father does like to point out the American similarities to certain German attitudes of the early 20th Century. In this case, the common enemy has become vocal Christians who actually read their Bibles.

People with partial knowledge attack the Bible. It has become quite vogue to point out what is not included and what contradicts. They don't know how we got the Septuagint, nor why certain writings were included and others excluded. Most churches and denominations place more importance on their own interpretations and commentaries than on the actual Biblical texts, and it makes for a confusing, humanistic argument. All the books of the Bible were physically written by a human hand, but God was the Author. Either one believes, or he disbelieves. If one does not believe God, then the Bible is flawed. If one does believe God, however, then the Bible reveals God. The supposed flaws were attempts by the Adversary to discredit God. The closer one looks at the Bible as it was originally written, the more one sees that God had a hand in making it as perfect as possible in a world run by the free will of man.

The world will not continue as it has. We are due for a major shift in how life is conducted on this planet. It won't be towards the Star Trek Utopia that so many adore. People don't change. They endlessly repeat the mistakes of the past. The names change, the settings change, but the results continue to be the same. Civilizations rise and fall, while people sift through the same recycled ideas that lead to the same risings and fallings of previous civilizations. That's why I read Proverbs. People still respond to the same stimuli and behave as they did five thousand years ago.

160110 NO Condemnation

Romans 8:1-4
(1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
(2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
(3) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
(4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Quoting the Word is not condemnation, it is simply restating what the rules are. Human nature, which is not from God, may make iy seem that way, and the recipient may take it that way from hidden guilt, but quoting the Word is not condemnation. God merely wants everyone to be saved.

1 Timothy 2:3-4
(3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
(4) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Therefore, anyone who feels oppressed by someone quoting the Word, that oppression is not coming from God, and the person quoting may only have the recipient's best interests in mind. The only thing tricky about this comes from our Adversary, the devil, who walks about seeking whom he may devour. God doesn't trick people. He has no darkness at all.

Remember, no one can make you angry without your permission.

160107 Unsafe and Insecure

Ten-Year-Old Girl

Flying used to be fun. No matter what the occasion, I calculate what it would cost to drive verses taking the bus or a train or a boat. I refuse to fly. I have no fear of flying, but like the man said, TSA makes law-abiding citizens feel unsafe and insecure. Our freedoms are attacked on so many fronts that it is impossible to list them all, and fighting even one of them on "their" terms spells defeat for logic and valor.

Instead, trust God. God sees and God knows. All that we humans see and know of this world is temporary. God is permanent. Last night, my daughters and I heard a teaching on the concept of a covenant, a binding contract. Basically, if God said it, that settles it. Do you know what God said? The example in this teaching centered on Abram. God made a covenant with him, and changed his name to Abraham.

When God told Abraham that he would be the father of many nations, he was already old! It took another twenty-five long years, before Abraham finally had a child with Sarah, his wife! Sarah, that poor, dear lady, was ninety when Isaac was born! Then, their child had only two sons. Abraham never saw anything other than apparently infertility, yet he still obeyed God.

James 2:23
(23)  And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Romans 4:3

(3)  For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Israel became a nation, but they ran into trouble and never became as numerous as the stars nor as many as sand on the beach. That started to happen two thousand years later. Christ came, and it became possible to be born again. Because Abraham believed, he became the Father of all who believe. Romans Chapter 4 discusses this completely, but this verse states it concisely:

Romans 4:11

(11)  And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

 

How many have believed and been born again! Add that to all those who are actual, physical descendants of this one man. Do their numbers not compete with the number of stars visible from Earth? Would they not seem as numerous as the grains of sand on a beach? Won't Abraham be blessed at seeing all of us?

What about your life? Time doesn't end here. Time will not end until God says it does. What happens after you die? The world talks of a famous person's legacy. Every president wants to be remembered for something, but whose memory really counts? God had the power to bless us beyond anything we can ask or think, and has promised in His Word that evil will result in nothing. He gave us our own contract, our own covenant. It's in His Word. 

2 Corinthians 9:8

(8)  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

1 Thessalonians 1:10

(10)  And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

We are to be blessed now and in the future. The hassles of today are temporary. The TSA is temporary. Persecutions, whether immediate or merely perceived, cannot stand against God. God protects us and will protect us from evil. Know what God will do. Claim it for yourself. It's in the contract. 

151218 True Power

The first thing I saw when I turned on my computer this morning was a homage to the latest Star Wars movie. Yes, in my previous post I recounted some of my fanish deeds to clarify my place as a fandom pioneer. Somehow, I failed to list the fanfic, but no one really wants to deal with that stuff. 

This followup has to do with reality. "The Force" really exists, but it in not the impersonal, ostentatious energies that George Lucas displays in the first six movies. All of us write from what we know, and I can see how he developed many of these ideas from Reformed Judaism and popular philosophy, but misses the mark set by Orthodoxy and the closer study of scripture.

Even Christians misunderstand God's power and that the past is prologue. The Old Testament explains the reason for and also predicts the New.

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God told Satan:
Genesis 3:15
(15) And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

What God considers important is not the same as what historians consider, but many historical clues in God's Word set the timing of Biblical events. Modern man is not the first generation to consider themselves wiser than past generations. All generations think this, which is also a devise of Satan, our Adversary. We have many, many examples of Satan's power. Watch the news and count the murders, disasters, wars, lawsuits, distractions, and politics. There is a power behind all that evil. How do people become so deluded and/or argumentative about various subjects? What could possibly motivate one person to overcome while the same adverse conditions send another into crime? Are we helpless? Has God abandoned us?

Acts 1:8
(8) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

δύναμις
dunamis
doo'-nam-is
From G1410; force (literally or figuratively); specifically miraculous power (usually by implication a miracle itself): - ability, abundance, meaning, might (-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle (-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.
Total KJV occurrences: 120

The Real Force has been in operation since the Day of Pentecost! God did not abandon us. He gave us power, then stepped back to let us use it. The Book of Acts records the power. Here's the thing. There is a learning process that too many ignore. If it doesn't work the first time, most give up. Personally, I've been at this for thirty-five years. Some things are ridiculously easy, but others I still don't get. The power may slip my mind on occasion, but I never, ever doubt that the power that God gave me is any less than prevailingly magnificent. He gives this power to ANYONE who has the ganas to believe for it. I don't want this to be a resume of the fantastic, but I will say that I have seen the impossible and have been rescued from the improbable.

The Force of Star Wars is the counterfeit of what God really does. It distracts us and has limitations. The power, the force that the True God gives us, in unlimited, because it is backed by God's Omnipotence. Rather than making us tired, it energizes us. I enjoy the Star Wars saga, but it is not real life. God is real. I don't believe because I've seen miracles. I've seen miracles because I believe.

• MOOD

   

  happy

• MUSIC

   

  Laramie

• LOCATION

   

  United States, Texas, Boerne

151216 Distracted Battles; What Do You Think?

Football Coach Sidelined for Praying

My first thought comes from Matthew 6, where Jesus Christ spoke of giving and praying in secret, but I could be wrong, because we are also not to be ashamed of the gospel. I know from the Word as well as multiple instances of personal experience that a secret prayer, one that no human can see, has had immediate and lasting results. (1 Samuel 1:10,11,20)

We don't have to be out in the open when we talk to God. In fact, it is it easier to concentrate in private. God hears our prayers no matter where we are. It doesn't seem right that this man is not allowed to pray in public, but rules are rules. Is he using this to witness? If so, it's not working. He needs to speak directly to individuals, not use the shotgun splattering effect. We obey secular rules as long as it doesn't interfere with our obedience to God, and God tells us to speak to those who want to hear. (Acts 1:8: Acts 5:20; Ephesians 4:15)

How is this public display obeying God? It seems to have become a ritual for this coach, and God tells us in His Word that ritual is not what He wants. God wants our hearts. (Matthew 6; Romans 14) I know that situations like this have become a rallying cry for some Christians, but personally, I believe that it is fighting the WRONG battle. We should be spreading love to individuals, not looking for occasions to waste time fighting the secular governments. Government has no soul. Only individuals can be saved.

What are your thoughts?

151214 Rights We Have

Romans 3:22-24

(22) Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

(23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

(24) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

We have the right to ask God for help, and He will always supply it. Sometimes, we don't know how to ask, or we don't think we can ask. Some even think that it is weakness to ask. I believe that my ex-husband fell into all three categories.

He never, ever wanted to admit to a weakness. He had to do everything on his own. He also felt so much guilt for certain things that he projected that guilt onto everyone else. That is, he compared his own sins with the "bigger" sins of others. Finally, he wouldn't just let go and let God handle his problems.

It's no secret what happened to him and to us, but is it profitable to discuss it further? Let's just say that in 2010, this stay at home mom of sixteen years was fighting for her life in the hospital while CPS, ATF, and certain state agencies were trying to take her children, her farm, and her freedom over something her unbelieving husband had done.

It's good to have friends, because they helped me to survive. My greatest Friend, however, has been God. He healed me. He made me free. He preserved my children. He it is that prospered me. He gave unto me righteousness, as stated in 1 Corinthians 1:30. He never forsakes the righteous, Psalm 37:25. A person has to walk away from God to lose righteousness. One has to remove himself from God's protection in order to get away from it. God is not a man that He should lie! If He made a promise, He will keep it!

Therefore, with faithfulness and adherence to good nutrition, I shall regain all of my health!

151205 Not Magic

The Word of God is not a massive list of magic spells. A person cannot just chant in rhythm and expect a miracle. One cannot mouth the words without engaging the mind and the heart in believing. If that were true, then what happened in Acts 19?

Acts 19:13-16
(13)  Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
(14)  And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
(15)  And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

(16)  And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Another incident that shows this is in Mark 9:14-29.

Mark 9:28-29
(28)  And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

(29)  And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

Honest prayer is believing, and believing is prayer. The world wants the Christian to believe that he doesn't have a prayer, indicating that prayer is weak and ineffectual. In contrast, prayer is actually mighty and certain when applied with believing.

Matthew 21:22

(22)  And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

The mismatched verb, 'shall', indicates that the result is certain. God does not use words haphazardly. Dare to believe, and see the results.

No, it is not magic, but it is power. We don't need to go though rituals and meaningless repetitions to receive blessings from God. Only our Adversary, the devil, requires that. Once, I asked a friend if he wanted me to minister healing to him. He told me that he has already burned a few candles and appealed to some dead people. I tried to tell him that God didn't really work that way. God expects us to talk directly to Him in prayer.

John 14:12-14
(12)  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
(13)  And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

(14)  If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

Think about the things that Jesus did. Verse twelve says that we can do more. 

Dare to believe.

 

151011 "Would You Like To Be a Slave, Baby?"

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This 80s song has burned in my heart for 30+ years.

150825 Believing

Mar 11:23,24
"For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."

No stress, no strain. Simply believe.

150805 The Un-People Person

Proverbs 14:4
"Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox."

This verse helps me. My personality is ISTJ and Shy-Introvert. This means that if stranded on a deserted island with plenty of food and adequate shelter, I might miss other people in the third or fourth month, but even that's doubtful.

In Proverbs 14:4 God reminds me that, yes, interpersonal relationships are messy, but we are better together than apart. My elder child moves out today.

150712 Lying Liars Lie, So Choose

The art of politics concerns lying convincingly. Politicians lie. Who knew? Therefore, I encourage everyone, both young and old, to choose a standard, make a hard copy, and refer to it frequently. From an early age, I took an interest in politics. I was ten when I followed my first presidential election. Yes, at age ten I read about Humphery, Wallace, and Nixon. I have opinions on today's issues, but they pale when compared to the standard I have chosen.

My standard is God's Word. If God said it, that settles it. Most people have no idea what God really said, but often those same people are not shy about proclaiming what they think He meant. God claims neither side of any political debate despite what any person or group or historical society may claim. God supersedes politics. God transcends political boundaries. God takes care of those who trust in Him despite any political affiliations. Trust God. Humans lie. :(

How does one trust God? Study His Word. There were deliberate forgeries, but they can be ferreted out and overcome. God's Word is perfect, so any 'mistake' is glaring. Some people hate Christians. They yell and scream, but not from the mistakes. They hate when the perfection shows. That's because there is an Adversary, as noted in 1 Peter 5:8, 2 Corinthians 4:4, The Book of Job, Genesis 3, and the Gospels. God loves it when we study, 2 Timothy 2:15. It's how we get to spend time with Him.

150607 Big Day in the Word

I fellowship with a small, tight group of believers who happen to be scattered world-wide. We laugh when we talk about membership. There are four members, and the rest of us simply stand with them. We research the Word of God, and we teach what we learn. Then, we fellowship together in small groups. Even though we have many small groups, we endeavor to obey 1 Corinthians 1:10. Truly, we attempt to obey God in all things with the theme that if God said it, that settles it. We have a lot of teachings and a lot of classes. (2 Timothy 2:15)

In light of this, today is a big day. Today, the Advanced Class on the Way of Abundance and Power opens. Great healing will occur. The Adversary may kick up his heals. (1 Peter 5:8) Although I am not physically present with the new students, I am praying for them, and I shall study my own notes from the times I have been there. Tonight, I shall attend a teleconference with others in this town. We shall hear the opening teaching. I love this. I rejoice at God's Word as one who finds great spoil.

More and more, it seems as if those in power and in education frown on Christians. They laugh at us for lack of intelligence, or call us mean and unjust for some supposed infraction. They delight in finding one! I know who will have the last laugh, and we won't be laughing against those poor sops who reject God. We'll be laughing for joy as we see the glory set before us.

I had birthday cake yesterday, but at least I exercised.

150404 Resurrection

04 April 2015 Yesterday, I ate non-standard fare, because I went to visit my dad. I have already forgotten most of it, so I won't record. We ate out at a Mexican restaurant, but their fajita salad was just a salad without a taco shell. They put the little tortilla chips on top, so I removed them as I would croutons. The fajita cooked chicken was spiced well, and the sliced avocado was perfectly decadent. It was an almost perfect Atkins meal! Next time, I may bring, or ask for, an ounce of olive oil as a dressing. Other than that, I had an Atkins shake and some pork rinds and other 'legal' food. I totally forgot how other people view Holy Week. People before me have done research. I've followed their research, and searched it myself, so I offer these verses: Romans 10:4 "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." Rom 14:5 "One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." Tradition likes to say that somehow God squeezed 72 hours between Friday afternoon and Sunday morning. I've known of this time conundrum most of my life, and finally found the solution about thirty years ago. For instance, last year, Passover (High Sabbath) started Wednesday at sunset. The regular weekly Sabbath ended Saturday at sunset. 72 hours. Hebrew days start and end at sunset, not sunrise. Therefore, I don't celebrate "Good" Friday. (What was good about torture and death?) This bothers family and friends because they don't like the 500 page refutation, which is backed by scripture and legitimate research. Instead of subscribing to tradition, I rejoice at the Resurrection. He is risen. He is risen indeed.

150325 Facebook Won't Load

Maybe that's a good thing. I spend too much time with it anyway. It was how I kept up with politics, but God knows more of what is going on. He knows what's going to happen tomorrow, so He can tell me. The Bible is relevant today, because the nature of humans has not changed. We are the same as the first man, if not dumber.

So, here's some ancient wisdom:

Proverbs 15:1,2
"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
"The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness."

Kind of reminds a person of politics today. Happy Wednesday!

150301 Politically Correct Lies

People use euphemisms to soften a hard truth, but that is not what political correctness does. Political correctness disguises the truth. Leonard Nimoy, a respected entertainer, passed and was laid to rest. That says it much more nicely than, "The old coot freakin' died!" (Strangely, I was more saddened when another Russian Jew left the land of the living. I still mourn the death of Isaac Asimov.) Euphemisms help us to cope with harsh truths. This explains why we have such a hilarious number of them for the end of life.

This morning, I read some trollings concerning opposing political opinions. The PC crowd cannot handle facts. They have to explain them with corrections. They have to massage the numbers into a lie. One of my favorite lies says that when 17% of the population commits 39% of all non-drug related crime, it has to be the fault of the other 83% of the population. Part of that lie says that education has to be acquired without discipline, because discipline means oppression. Tell that to an Olympic gold-metalist. Another lie says that culture doesn't matter. It doesn't matter unless that culture is Christian, because Christians are oppressive, divisive, and destructive, (unlike Muslims,who are simply misunderstood).

Where do I get these ideas? Mainstream American news outlets and the trolls who follow them beat these messages on the relentless drums of propaganda. In 2012, I made the dark prediction that we Americans have had our last free election. Now more and more people are starting to agree. Few adults know history without the filter of the progressive agenda. Fewer children have any idea what brought about our Declaration of Independence, nor what true freedom entails.

2 Corinthians 3:17
"Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

Obviously, in order to bring about a totalitarian government, they have to get rid of God. Only God can bring us back to freedom.

150116 Of Hebrews 4:12

Three decades ago, I was on a year long Bible outreach program. For two weeks, we posted an ad on the ‘church’ page, which ran in the local newspaper on Saturdays. On the second Saturday, we received a phone call from a man who declined to visit our Christian fellowships. He called every night with Bible questions. Why would he not visit? For the sake of clarity, I’ll call him “J”.

After a couple of weeks of daily calls, J revealed why he could not visit. He told us an amazing story, and it shows why Hebrews 4:12 lives for me and should imprint itself on every believer’s mind. Never devalue the power of God’s Word! J was in federal prison.

J was born and raised in East LA. He was quite intelligent, and quickly discovered that the way to get money was to sell drugs, but not to use them. He enjoyed violence. By the time he was a young adult, he was taken down in a sting and went to federal prison for twenty-five years. He didn’t like that, so escaped. They caught him and tacked five years onto his sentence. They moved him to another location where he escaped again and got another five years. He was moved to yet another prison, where he escaped again, so the judge tacked another five years onto his sentence. He got fifteen years just for attempting to escape. He pushed the envelope as often as he could, so one by one he lost every privilege he had. He was confined to solitary. Finally, he demanded a Bible, simply because they could not deny him that. Alone and bored, he started reading.

He told us that several times he grew frustrated and threw the book against the wall and called God a liar. He screamed and yelled, but boredom drew him into reading some more. One day, something stuck in his brain: God really existed. People really followed Him. Miracles really happened. He believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and believed that God had raised him from the dead. All the need for violence left him, and he was released from solitary. He had access to the newspaper, so searched for a church to answer his questions. He found our ad. It was the only one that listed ‘research’ and ‘teaching’. He knew that we would have answers and called. We were planning to run a Bible class. With special permission, he took it over the phone. For three hours a night for twelve nights, he sat on the phone, listening.

Would this work again? I don’t know. Ask God. Our ad appeared only twice, and to this day, I have not heard of another that has received this kind of response. As far as I know, this man is still in prison. Because of his history, he had been moved to other federal prisons frequently and without warning. Last I heard, he had changed locations twice, and is not scheduled for release until 2017. He quit writing me several years ago.

All hell can’t stop this man from being with the Lord in paradise. We will meet again.