Prepare Your House Now!
Why? Because difficult times lie ahead. Prices are jumping quicker than a human over hot coals. Inflation is expected to at least double the present prices by the end of this year, if not sooner.
The wise king
King Solomon wrote what was collated into 31 chapters of numerous proverbs, some he wrote personally, and some he collected from other wise sayings of his era.
Wisdom
In chapter 24, we read:
“Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house” (Proverbs 24:27, NIV).
Preparation
Though we trust in the Lord to provide for our needs (Matthew 6:25-34), we should prepare in advance for difficult times. I submit to you that in this new season of tribulation that we should already be preparing for what is to come. And do not be deceived, tribulations began in earnest when Jesus was resurrected and when He opened the first four seals of Revelation chapter six. These tribulations will increase in intensity until He stands again on the Mount of Olives.
With the ongoing war in Ukraine, rampant inflation, foolish government expenditures, increasing oil prices, supply chain shortages and the like, most of us are already feeling the pinch in our wallets and/or purses. Our respective currency becomes more and more worthless at every turn.
It’s never too late to prepare, friends. What I glean from the above-mentioned verse in Proverbs is that we should, if at all possible, be planting gardens to harvest our own food. Additionally, we should have a modicum of security (fire alarms, gates, security cameras, and some type of reasonable defense).
Build your spiritual house
After we have done this and continue to improve over the long-term, we build our house. Our house, as it were, should have already been built upon the rock of Christ. our Lord and Savior.
Jesus said, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it” (Matthew 7:24-27, NIV).
Did you catch that? The rain, floods and the wind are symbolic of the troubles that beset us in this life as we dwell in our mortal earth suits.
With Christ as our eternal Rock (not Peter), we have the promised indwelling Holy Spirit to guide us and teach us and our house is established.
And the more we become like Christ and are obedient to God’s will, the more we will move from “faith to faith,” that is, our faith will increase and continue until the consummation of the age (Romans 1:17).
Perseverance
In the New Testament and in the in the NIV, the term "perseverance" occurs thirteen times. In the Septuagint the word refers to either confidence in or tense expectation of ("waiting on") the power or the faithfulness of God, who delivers his people (Psalm 37:9; Isaiah 51:5; Micha 7:7; Zeph 3:8). Perseverance is inextricably linked with the concept of hope (Psalm 5:11; 7:1 ; 15:1; 16:7).
Our hope in Christ is not mere wishful thinking but rather a confidence in Him for who He is, what He has done, what He has promised, and what He will do. We must abandon the self and allow to be God on God's terms rather than our terms. When we do the opposite we live in the false self.
Perception
We need to put on our spiritual glasses and observe the season we are in. Many of us are entirely too focused on the things of this world and the pursuit thereof. This is not for the true believer but instead replicates what the pagans do.
The Apostle John wrote: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them” (1 John 2:15, NIV).
Who are we putting before God? Whatever it is, we shun it because it is idolatry. Our culture has drastically changed. Those who belong to this world (earth dwellers - the unbelieving) change the culture by inventing or redefining new words and concepts.
There are no multiple genders, friends; there is strictly male and female (Genesis 1:27). Freedom is God-ordained and not established by any government.
To be perceptive is to have the “mind of Christ” (Romans 12:2). God’s living word informs us that human wisdom is faulty at best, leading humanity to call “good evil and evil good” (Isaiah 5:20).
At every moment of each day, we observe ourselves fighting an internal battle, one that can either bring us a step closer to Christ or pull us farther from Him. In which direction are we heading?
We receive the mind of Christ upon belief but it needs to be further developed. We accomplish this by taking our every thought captive, reading and memorizing God’s everlasting word, and meditating on Scripture. We diligently spend consistent time in the presence of Christ through prayer and worship and praise.
Prayer
God gave us a direct communication line to Him through Jesus. Are we spending time in daily prayer or throwing caution to the wind? Some of us who call ourselves Christians have time for social media, Netflix and other forms of entertainment, but fail to spend time with our Lord in prayer. We say we have no time. We deceive ourselves by saying this.
Though it has been stated before, it bears repeating: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5, NIV). We don’t need a priest to intervene for us, because we are priests!
Not only do we recognize God’s sovereignty over our lives and Has plan, and make our requests known to God in prayer, we listen to what He has to say. Many of us are not good listeners; we only seek the benefits of prayer. But God is not in the genie business of granting our every wish, as some wrongly believe.
We should “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). If we are only praying when we are in need or in a crisis, we are missing an intimate relationship with God.
A Final Thought
We live in perilous and exciting times. Hardship is coming. While the times are dark, the light of Christ shines through and directs our paths. Let us prepare, gain a new perception. and be persistent prayer warriors for Christ.
When we have built our house on the Rock of Christ, no shifting world events can shake our faith. Therefore, rejoice!
Deltacron - What's the Scam You Have Going On?
Oh, boy, those who want to get you repeatedly jabbed are up to some new fearmongering. If you've been too busy to pay attention to the latest facts, you've likely already taken the clot shots and found out they don't protect you from the virus anymore than an apple a day.
Deltacron
I marvel at the temerity, the utter audacity of globalists and their fiendish minions who continue to push the **false emergency health narrative**. There is absolutely no reason whatsoever for countries declaring a health emergency over less lethal COVID variants and the inability of any vaccine to prevent the fully jabbed from catching a new case of the Wuhan bioweapon. None.
According to *The Jerusalem Post*, "A new coronavirus variant nicknamed "Deltacron" has been discovered in Cyprus, local media reported on Saturday" (Deltacron, 2021). https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/coronavirus/protein-component-could-be-added-to-covid-vaccines-to-protect-against-new-variants-study-688504
While Israel is one of the top most-vaccinated countries in thw world, it is also tops in new breakthrough cases, though very mild ones at that. But fear rules over critical thinking all the time among the uninformed. Oh, and Israel is coming out with a 2nd booster. Imagine that. If shots were steps, the fully jabbed would be on their way up to the modern Tower of Babel.
Dr. Malone
Dr. Robert Malone is the foremost authority on virology and immunology, with over 40 years of scientific experience. Unlike Dr Fraud, and those who yank his strings like a puppet, Malone is an actual physician. Furthermore, Malone is the inventor of the RT-PCR test. He adamantly states that the aforementioned test is unable to differentiate any COVID variant from the annual flu. Hopefully, that ought to tell you something.
But if that fails to wake you up, Malone also invented the mRNA vaccine! He is **strongly averse to the vaccines**, as he realized in March of 2020 that the entire health emergency was a power grabbing precedent for future lockdowns that have nothing to do with viruses.
And if those two facts don't awaken you from your slumber, **Twitter banned Malone permanently for refuting the global hoax with scientific facts**.
But if you follow him and his daily articles, you would be aware of the fact that bad (and paid scientists) beholden to special interests are failing the world population to produce real science, and all for profit. Oh, and deaths.
Supreme Court
The US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) is presently hearing oral arguments over Joe Biden's vaccine mandates. The Court is likely to strike down Joe's power grab.
Malone writes: "The Supreme Court will hear two emergency challenges Friday (January 14th) to President Joe Biden’s vaccine-or-test mandates for large businesses and healthcare workers, **testing the limits of executive power** amid a relentless pandemic. The challengers are various religious organizations, private businesses and Republican-led states, which will argue Biden has no authority to mandate a vaccine for them" (Malone, 2022).
You might want to take a moment to read his Christmas Day, peer-reviewed artcle, whether you're jib-jbbed or not, **but especially if you are jabbed**. You are now prone to getting myocarditis which is a big killer among the double-jabbed and all booster recepients. Looks like the bragging about hetting the jabs might not pay off for some of you in the end.
Risk of myocarditis following sequential COVID-19 vaccinations by age and sex December 25, 2022 medRxiv doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.12.23.21268276 https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.12.23.21268276v1
Climate change
Climate change is the next health emergency the globalists are going to push as the COVID fear porn wanes. The Supreme Court is already destined to restrain Biden from unlawful and unconstitutional mandates without Congessional approval. Again, what we observe with Biden is a power, control and money grab.
At any rate, knuckleheads like Greta Thunber (fear porn supreme commander) continue to push the climate change emergency. **Folks, there is no emergency**. God is in total control and according to His plan, climate change does not end the world as we know it.
The globalists will push this emergency narrative and lock us down for longer stretches than COVID did if we let them get away with it.
The End?
Not likely. Those who control the future have controlled the past with their incessant propaganda. The gullible, those who fail to think critically, and sadly, the wholly ignorant and frightened, will continue to be swayed by unscientific data, and like sheep gone astray, seal their own eventual fate.
It's well past time to get informed and to cease and desist from government mandates.
References
"Coronavirus: 'Deltacron' variant discovered in Cyprus." (2021, Dec.). *The Jerusalem Post.* Retrieved from https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-691926?_ga=2.246574340.1025592419.1641648829-1229034299.1617710680&utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=COVID%3A+new++Deltacron++coronavirus+variant+discovered+in+Cyprus&utm_campaign=January+9%2C+2021+Day
Malone, R. W. (2022). The Crumbling Narrative. Retrieved from https://rwmalonemd.substack.com/p/the-crumbling-narrative?token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjo2OTgwMDczNSwicG9zdF9pZCI6NDY3Njc0MzMsIl8iOiIvMTB6aSIsImlhdCI6MTY0MTg2NjAwNSwiZXhwIjoxNjQxODY5NjA1LCJpc3MiOiJwdWItNTgzMjAwIiwic3ViIjoicG9zdC1yZWFjdGlvbiJ9.8xnfusU3b1TDEhDU_kfSQQxVCnSWyKWqlDjwEA0XCx4
Building a Church - Expanding My Christian Ministry
It's been a week or more since I last wrote anything on read.cash. Christmas was a blur as we were busy building up the ministry and raising funds for construction for a church on the beach. Several names for the church have crossed my mind but I have narrowed it down to three and am considering which one to choose.
Business management models
There are a host of these models to follow for any small business or corporation, and as a business major (one of my degrees), they work well providing there is good leadership at the helm.
Having said that, many churches utilize one or more of these business models to run their ministry. I have no real beef with that as long as Christ is glorified. However, Christianity is not a business and should not be run like one.
The early church didn't have nor did they use a business model. Christianity was built on spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth. Faithful apostles and disciples of Jesus preached Jesus and a new life and hope for eternity.
The only real problem I have with using a business model is that if taken to extremes, the church becomes a commercial retail outlet. Those of us who read and/or study the Bible know how Jesus despised this very thing. He cleansed the Temple twice because of its use by dishonest retailers.
Property
The property for the building of an evangelical church has been decided upon. Again, it is on the beach in the Philippines.
Mind you, there are relatively few evangelical churches when compared to Catholic churches, which are fine, but the cults abound entrapping untold millions of people who are being led to eternal destruction.
Anyway, the paperwork, licenses, et cetera have been a nightmare. Anyone familiar with the country which I proudly call home is acutely aware of how slow things work when it comes to taxation, licensing, building permits and all that jazz.
And I refuse to pay bribes to speed up the process. The nerve of some people! But I suppose it works for some but I want no part of it. At least I have an excellent attorney to shield me from unscrupulous individuals.
Newsletters
I finally broke down and bought Microsoft 365. It's a good deal at $60 a year for the personal version. I can add it to 5 devices. it comes with 1 terabyte of cloud and Publisher, where I am making my newsletters.
Right now we are in a fundraising stage hence newsletters to those in like ministries will be sent out this week. My longtime Texas friend @AceyDeucey will be arriving in mid-January to help with the construction. He will also be going to Hong Kong to meet with a few interested people and for some R&R.
Disappointments
Aside from the corruption, two other major disappointments have beset the ministry. Satan does not want to give up! The first disappointment was an old friend from Detroit, Michigan. He's a US millionaire who promised to fund the entire building construction and furnish the church. Unfortunately, he fell away from the faith (hopefully for only a short while) and returned to his former ways of go-go bar frolicking.
The second disappointment came from one of the biggest Texas ranchers there is. This man has more money than he can spend in a lifetime. Though we have been in constant communication since 1993, and he has supported the ministry before, he declined to assist. I don't know why nor do I know his true circumstances.
Provision
When all is said and done, we will trust the Lord to provide. I hope and pray that your needs will be readily supplied as well, whatever they may be. I do ask that you pray for the ministry and funding. Thank you.
Diversity and Unity
When we think of the term diversity in our modern world we are taught to apply it to race or ethnicity. We are taught that the White man is the source of all the problems in the world and this is simply a lie from Satan and from the out of hell itself.
This grievance is one of the great causes of disunity in the world today, proffered by the spirit of the Antichrist and those who submit themselves to false teachings such as socialism and Marxism - both of which are antithetical to God's teachings.
Moreover, agnostics and so-called atheists are part and parcel of evil. This includes those who have no belief in th living God, Jesus Christ.
Unity
Right before Jesus went to the cross He prayed to the Father: "I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of[ your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one" (John 17:11, NIV).
Paul spoke to the importance of unity in the church. He wrote: "May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:5-5, ESV).
Is that all there is to unity?
Not at all. Christian unity is a virtue, but there are a variety of things that can and must limit unity. For example, we do not pursue unity merely for the sake of unity; for it is Jesus Christ and His everlasting truth that unites us. As far as Scripture tells us, we are commanded to separate from professed brothers and sisters in Christ who live in persistent, unrepentant sin.
Unfortunately, there are a number of those types on this platform. It is their right to write what they believe, and unless the Holy Spirit prompts us to reply to them, we just just scroll by and look for encouraging articles that are uplifting to one's soul and spirit.
Disunity
Disunity isn't anything new. It happened in the Old Testament days and during the early days of the Church.
The fact is, we won’t reach full Christian unity until we attain “to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Therefore, it is unlikely that we believers will not fully realize Christian unity in this world. Nevertheless, we can strive for it.
The unity that faith in Jesus Christ brings extends God’s love on earth and reveals the truth of who Jesus is. Unity in the church also foreshadows the worship in heaven, where a great multitude “from every nation, tribe, people and language” stands before God and cries out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb”(Revelation 7:9-10).
Closing remarks
The great preacher Charles Spurgeon once stated: "Satan always hates Christian fellowship; it is his policy to keep Christians apart. Anything which can divide saints from one another he delights in. He attaches far more importance to godly intercourse than we do. Since union is strength, he does his best to promote separation."
He was right. But as the Scripture mentions, we are to be separate from professing believers who really do not believe it all. Be discerning. Yes, Christians will sin, but that is not what I am speaking about. I am speaking about the content of a user on this platform. Stay away from all ungodliness so you are not infected with false teachings and swayed into evil pursuits.
Gifts & Exchanges
Yes, it's that time of the year again, Christmas. People will be celebrating, eating well (if they are able) and rejoicing in the spirit of Christmas. Still others will suffer depression and heartache from a past memory that happened during this otherwise joyful season.
Pause and reflect
I've said it many times, Jesus was not born on Christmas Day as tradition tells us. Instead, he was likely born in August or September when shepherds would still be tending their flocks. This something they would not be doing in Israel in December!
Nevertheless, this is a great time for giving as opposed to receiving. I won't delve into what I gave this year but the only thing I asked for was a San Diego Padre's original jersey, which I got. Other than that, I want nothing.
Gifts & Exchanges
One of my primary pastors speaks about gifts and exchanges in his Christmas sermon. Now I know it is Sunday and many will be going to church today. The fact is, some people only go to church when it is convenient or when it is Christmas or Easter.
But live sermons and worship are always available online. Having said that, I'd like to invite you to hear the sermon by my pastor with the same title as the subheading.
It's free. You can watch it on Facebook or on his website. You may also sign up to receive a daily devotion for free.
I assure you this: this pastor is a straight shooter and will not stteer you wrong. He preaches the gospel and how we should live.
The invite link is here and I hope you will enjoy it. If you desire to skip the worship music (he's not into entertainment in his large church), you can cut past it.
https://www.facebook.com/pastorallenjackson/videos/420426659764498/
I'm So Over Omicron Already
If you've been paying attention about the pandemic of late, you know there is a new variant they have dubbed Omicron. It's interesting how the "scientists" have ceased using the Greek alphabet and have switched to odd names. But perhaps these odd names have a deeper meaning.
Hysteria
Everyone with a brain had a rational reason to be concerned when the China virus first broke out in Wuhan and then spread around the world during the Chinese New Year. Nowadays, I've lost count of the number of variants, but the latest, Omicron, is already creating mass hysteria just in time for the holidays.
Michael Osterholm, who is the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research at the University of Minnesota, is promising a "viral blizzard" of Omicron cases.
But some respectable scientists are advising that this specific variant is **far less harmful** than Delta and all previous variants. So why the hysteria? I'll get to that in a moment. But in brief, this "expert" says a person can have both Delta and Omicron at the same time.
The so called expert "Dr." Osterholm stated the following: “In the next three to eight weeks, we’re going to see millions of Americans are going to be infected with this virus,” citing trends already witnessed in South Africa and Europe (Brown, 2021).
Of note, the above-mentioned gentleman is **not a doctor** but rather he holds a doctorate degree. Well, then, call me Dr. Scotty!
Panic button
Based on what I have been reading lately, I have a notion that after the holidays, we are going to see more strict lockdowns occur all over the world. This would not be good for the global economy.
Make no mistake about it, another second total lockdown like the ones we have been compelled to obey, *or else*, would assure the utter destruction of cities around the world by jackboot dictator's who have absolutely no economic or scientific backgrounds.
At present, only 1 out of 100,000 people have died from the Omicron variant. Not so deadly, right? More people die daily from drinking bad water.
But here's the kicker: Lockdowns appeal to left-wing economists, educators and media outlets quietly (or not so quietly) sympathetic to iron-fisted, socialist-style government control.
Propaganda
Anyone still watching the TV news is a dullard and a willing puppet of mass propaganda.
All the media does is push fear and fear breeds control and gives our so called leaders more unconstitutional powers.
I recently saw this image on Facebook. It alleges that McDonald's has a new franchise on the moon. The number of people who believed it was simply unbelievable. Folks, this was a joke, not even close to being real, as anyone with a brain would know. But even meme jokes like the one above can be used a propaganda and spread disinformation, intentionally or not.
One liberal propagandist, writing for *The Philippine Star*, writes: "Omicron, as all health experts stress, is infecting **mostly the unvaccinated**" (Pamintuan, 2021). **This is a damnable lie**. As of this date, only two cases have allegedly been detected, one from a Nigerian gentleman who arrived in the Philippines on November 30, and from a Filipino who returned from Japan (Pamintuan, 2021).
The fact is, **it is the fully vaccinated who are spreading the virus** due to their increased viral load from the mRNA jabs. **The shots are not vaccines** in the traditional sense and remain experimental despite FDA approval.
Interesting observations
Here's some interesting facts even Facebook does not dispute.
And here is what I was referring to at the introduction of this article about odd names.
An anagram is simply a word or phrase formed by reordering the letters of another word or phrase. As observed above, Delta and Omicron have been repositioned to spell out **Media Control**. Coincidence? That's up to you to decide.
Booster shots
The big push now is for booster shots. Even the double-jabbed are resisting these. How many would ever be needed? In the US, there is a huge pushback against the "most popular president ever elected," Joe Biden.
Hey, maybe you could earn a free pizza! Sadly, governments are even pushing the jabs and booster shots on kids from ages two on up (in some countries). Not my kid, not know how.
Wake up!
Folks, you need to get your heads out of your rear ends and watch what is happening to us as individuals and as a world population.
This is how the global elites, Big Pharma and the dictating jackboots like to slice the pie. They screw things up for everyone but themselves for money, power and control.
Turn off you TV's, get off of You Tube, delete your TikTok and Twitter accounts, and begin getting informed as opposed to being played like a puppet.
Like I said, I'm so over Omicron already.
**References**
Brown, L. (2021). ‘Viral blizzard’: Expert warns Omicron variant infections are about to surge. *New York Post*. Retrieved from https://nypost.com/2021/12/17/expert-warns-omicron-covid-variant-will-spark-viral-blizzard/
Pamintuan, A. M. (2021). Panic time? *The Philippine Star*. Retrieved from https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2021/12/17/2148481/panic-time
My 5 Favorite Christmas Songs - and Why
We all have out favorite Christmas songs we know by heart. Some we like because they arouse pleasant or sentimental memories. My top 5 are likely completely different from your faves and the reasons why are, too.
Little Drummer Boy
This is my top pick every Christmas. It was my mother's favorite song by Bing Crosby. The version I prefer features Bing Crosby and David Bowie. Both are now deceased but their perfect pitch lives on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9kfdEyV3RQ
The song reminds me of past Christmases we had together as a family, and some of the traditions that I follow to this day. One tradition is that we make cake to eat for breakfast with our coffee on Christmas morning. Of course, as I've said before, I know Jesus wasn't born on Christmas Day.
Another tradition my family holds today is opening up one gift on Christmas Eve. Usually it is clothes of some type to wear the next day, but not always. Here in the Philippines a lot of the Filipinos open up all their gifts on Christmas Eve. I find it kind of funny because Filipinos are a sweet people but their sense of time is "just time" and rarely will one ever be on time for an appointment or a meet up.
O Come All Ye Faithful
This comes in at number two for me. I prefer Anne Murray's version, though I think Kelly Clarkson does it pretty well, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oUAnGcT--A
The song highlights the announcement of the birth of a new king, Jesus Christ. It also speaks of the joy we have in Christ Jesus as believers and the triumph we share with Jesus when He overcame death for all who believe.
Do You Hear What I Hear?
I really like this song. It was tough to out it at number 3 so I'll call it 2 -1/2. Again, it's an old Bing Crosby classic. I guess I've always liked crooners like Bing, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Tom Jones, Perry Como, and Michael Buble'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuE_DXrt2Js
This is the 1963 version. Most of us weren't even a thought in the minds of our parents when this song was sung, but I assure you that God knew each of us before the creation of the universe.
The Prayer
Hard to put this at #4 but it had to so somewhere. My favorite version is by Marcelito Pomoy. He does the impossible by changing his voice to perfectly imitate both Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x462Hia_7hU
If you haven't heard this version, it is simply one of the best ever. But there is an other version I can really relate to here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsNlcr4frs4
It features two unlikely contestants who blow the audience away on a show I used to work for: America's Got Talent (though this is the British version where they got their start). The duo is called Charlotte & Jonathan.
Mary, Did You Know?
This song is definitely a fan favorite and the lyrics are powerful. The best rendition I prefer is by the Pentatonix.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCWN5pJGIE
The harmony is pretty awesome and the lyrics, as I mention will touch your heart. Just close your eyes when listening and imagine this group singing to Mary.
From my family to your family, have an advanced and very Merry Christmas.
So that's my top five. What are you five favorites and why?
Images from https://pixabay.com/
God's Law is Like an X-Ray Machine
Who wrote the Ten Commandments? When Moses went up atop Mount Sinai, did he chisel out the Ten Commandments himself since he knew the people were violating the precepts of God? Or did God write them?
Hear what the Bible says about the matter (this is Moses writing):
"At that time the Lord said to me, “Chisel out two stone tablets like **the first ones** and come up to me on the mountain. Also make a wooden ark. I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. Then you are to put them in the ark” (Deuteronomy 10:1-2, NIV).
The First Ones
Did you catch that? Moses had already received the Ten Commandments once but he broke them! Why would he do such a thing? The Bible does not tell us why, but that doesn't mean we cannot figure out a reasonable explanation.
Obviously, Moses is angry when he comes down from Mt. Sinai. But why? It is likely because while Moses was up there, and the pre-incarnate Christ is writing the Covenant with his finger on the stone tablets, his brother Aaron below had made two golden calves as idols for the people to worship. Anyway, this is likely why Moses broke the first two tablets and had to make another trek up the mountain to receive them again.
The Ten Commandments
We have all seen and/or read them. The first four have to do with our relationship with God: loyalty, worship, reverence and sanctification and relationship.
The next six are how we are to behave towards our neighbors: respect for our parents, respect for human life (do not murder), keeping our relationships with our wife or husband pure (no adultery), honesty (do not steal), about telling the truth (don't lie), and finally, about being content with what we have as opposed to coveting what others have.
Romans chapter 6 summary
In this chapter, Paul is speaking to Christians. In the previous chapter he had said that we are no longer under the law of Moses, and that God's grace would always increase to cover our sinfulness.
In other words, we who believe have died to sin and are a new creation. As such, we are not to go on sinning like unbelievers. Rather, as new creations in Christ, we should live as if we were slaves to righteousness, because in a way, that is precisely what we are.
Romans chapter 7
Here, Paul is **not speaking to Christians**. He is speaking about the law and what it is unable to do and able to do. We read:
"What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, **I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law**" (Romans 7:7, NIV).
Paul goes on later in the chapter and writes:
"We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. **For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do**. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. **For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out**. **For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do**—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it" (Romans 7:14-20, NIV).
Who is I?
Who is the I in these verses? **It's not Paul**; he's a believer and is already dead to sin. Yes, he still sins like we do, but it is the promise that our sins have been forgiven and that in glory we will no longer sin.
So Paul is speaking to those who are trying to keep the Ten Commandments. He is showing them two things: 1. It is impossible to obey all of the commandments; and 2. He is showing them that they need Jesus to set them free from the law of sin and death.
X-Ray machine
Let's use an analogy here to get a better understanding. Let's suppose we have this persistent back pain that at times nearly cripples us to the point we can barely get out of bed or walk. Of course, we would go see a doctor and find out what's what.
A good physician would order an MRI or an x-ray (or both) to determine the problem.
Let's say the doctor says we have bulging or ruptured (herniated) disks and require surgery. Would we curse the x-ray machine or the MRI machine for revealing our problem? Certainly not. In the same manner, then, **the law reveals to us our sin and we should not curse it for revealing our sinful nature**.
A problem
Some preachers and teachers believe that the new covenant with Christ makes the law of no effect. But they are sadly mistaken. We read from Jesus and His Sermon on the Mount:
"For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished" (Matthew 5:18, NIV).
Why is this so? First, it is meant to show those who remain unbelievers what sin is and point them to Jesus for forgiveness.
Second, Jesus summed up the law by saying: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself" (Luke 10:27, NIV). This covers the first 4 commandments and the final six.
Be encouraged!
Those of us who have been justified as righteous in God's eyes because of our faith still have work to do. We must live in the spirit and put away the fleshly desires of our deceitful hearts.
We are to live holy lives. Yes, we will sin but by obedience we will sin less. So be encouraged! If you are in Christ as a believer by faith alone, you are no longer at war with God and He is no longer angry at you and I. Let's strive to live holier lives for the cause of Christ and lift Him up.
Free images here are from https://pixabay.com/
Would You Spit in the Face of Jesus?
Before you say no, hang on, I have a couple of more questions for you. Would you beat him unmercilessly? Would you be willing to crucify Him?
These are real questions that fit into the category of what is known as recall and/or process questions. These types of questions require some analysis on the part of the respondent, that is, you the reader. But for the purpose of avoiding you thinking I am not capable of doing these despicable things, I include myself.
Spitting in the face of Jesus
Spitting in someone's face is an indignity. In the US where I am from, it calls for an immediate fight on the spot wherever it my occur.
When Jesus was being led by the Roman soldiers to be crucified, Matthew tells us that "They spit on him..." (Matthew 27:30, NIV). This was meant to humiliate Him in front of all those who witnessed Him as He bore His cross.
I submit to you that when we deny Christ as Peter did, we spit in His face. Now many will claim that they would never do such a thing, but the reality is, even if we believe we have a strong faith, there may be times when we indirectly deny Jesus.
This may occur and typically does when we fail to speak up for Jesus or we do not speak out, which can be just as much a form of denial as any.
Take heed to what Jesus said: "Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven (Matthew 10:32-33a, NIV).
Would you beat Jesus?
Many of us do. Unbelievers do it all the time by ridiculing Him. But believers are also capable of doing it when we complain and grumble, when we don't receive an immediate answer to our prayers, or when we fight amongst ourselves over trivial matters.
On the well known Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said to the masses: "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16, NIV).
I submit to you that when we see things we ought to do and do not do them, our light does not shine and instead we slap Jesus in the face as if what He said doesn't apply to us.
Not only did the Roman soldiers spit on Jesus, but they "took the staff and struck him on the head again and again" (Matthew 27:30b, NIV).
I would suggest that we beat Him up when we ask in greed for things we don't need. We ask to be wealthy, we fall for social media scams that promise money if you'll just type an "Amen" in the comment section. We ask for money, too. Don't you know God will supply all of our needs when we serve Him in faith?
Would you crucify Jesus?
Some faiths do this every single time they meet. This is especially true among those adherents of the Catholic faith when they observe the Mass. Let's see what God's word has to say about this.
"The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; **do this in remembrance of me**.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in **remembrance of me**.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes" (1 Corinthians 11:23-26, NIV).
The Mass has four primary purposes: 1. To adore God as our Creator and Lord; 2. To thank God for His many favors; 3. To ask God to bestow His blessings on all men; and 4. To satisfy the justice of God for the sins committed against Him.
But again, I submit to you that the Mass does none of these things. Inasmuch as the Mass is a man-made institution with no standing in the God's word, and inasmuch as it accomplishes the holding up of Jesus Christ continually to public shame, which is expressly forbidden in Scripture, we can definitely know that the Mass cannot accomplish any of these objectives above.
While we do not quarrel with the first three objectives, we certainly of a necessity quarrel with objective number four. The very idea that humanity must daily, through the Sacrament of the Mass, satisfy the Justice of God for sins committed against Him is totally against Scripture.
You see, during the Mass, Christ supposedly continues to offer Himself to the Father as He did on the Cross. And in the Mass the Father continues to accept His Son's gift. **This is not so!**
Now some of you will be angry with me and I can accept that, but I speak the truth from God's word, **not to berate you but rather to educate you.**
Parting shots
Have you spit in the face of Jesus, beat him up and crucified Him over and over again? If so, we should stop doing these ungodly practices. These practices reveal our lack of reverence for He who died for our sins.
Do you not know that "For Christ also **suffered once for sins**, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit..." (1 Peter 3:18, ESV).
In closing, let's stop spitting in His face by denying Him and to maintain friendships; let's stop beating Him up with grumbling, complaining and begging Him for money as if He were our central bank; and finally, let's stop crucifying Him over and over again.
May the Holy Spirit touch the hearts of the readers and convict where applicable.
Images are free at https://pixabay.com/
The Necessity of Intentional Prayer
Most people do not pray or they pray to a god rather than to the true God who created the universe, Jesus Christ. "But Jesus didn't create the world," some say. Yes, He did.
The plan of creation came from the Father and Jesus carried it out and sustains creation to this very moment. We read:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and **the Word was God**. He was with God in the beginning. **Through him all things were made**; without him nothing was made that has been made" (John 1:1-3, NIV).
At any rate, even though Jesus was and is God, He prayed when He was on earth and He intercedes to the Father on our behalf 24/7/365. **But He despises repetitive prayers.** Here I do not mean that we cannot continue to ask him for something, but rather I refer to canned prayers.
The Disciples
Jesus had an abundance of followers during His 3-year ministry. He had to make a choice of the 12 men He would pick to spread the gospel. And though He was and remains God, guess what He did? **He prayed to the Father!** We read:
"Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and **spent the night** **praying to God**. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles" (Luke 6:12-13).
But this was the promised Messiah who had turned water into wine, who brought the dead back to life again, and even quieted the wind and the waves on the Sea of Galilee. Nevertheless, He felt the need to spend numerous hours seeking the will of the Father in this most important matter. Rather than sleep, He prayed through the night.
Intentional prayer
Now if God’s only Son Jesus totally relied on prayer so profoundly and gave so much attention to His prayer life, don't you believe we should follow His example? Of course we should!
We can pray anywhere and at any time of the day. We don't need a rosary and repetitious prayer, but instead **intentional prayer that comes from the depths of our hearts.**
Though God already knows all about us, inclusive of every act and word we have done and uttered, He wants to hear from us directly and on a personal level. **We don't need anyone to confess to or intercede for us** - we already have Jesus!
"For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5, NIV).
God is not your sky fairy
I find it sad that among those that do pray, they do so in a half-hearted manner. They pray only when in dire straits or when they want something. That's not how it works. Though He owns everything in the universe, He is not your Santa Claus dropping gifts off at your convenience.
How about this: let’s give the Lord our God a lot more than our final fading thoughts of our evening; and moreover, let us make prayer a priority in our lives.
Parting words
A fruitful prayer life necessitates intentionality or else it will be lost in the busyness of our daily lives. Pray from your heart rather than from some devotional or written prayer. If anything, pray the words from the Bible.
Think abut it: **what is your plan for spending time with the Lord?** Will you spare a few moments with Him here and there or will you follow the example Christ set for us and pray without ceasing?
Images free from https://pixabay.com/
Choosing Another King
Who is your king? Who sits on the throne of your life? These are questions that will determine your eternal destiny, so give them some critical thought.
Making a difference
The true people of God are the ones making a difference in this world as they follow and act upon the prompts from the Holy Spirit. Conversely, it is not the people who attend church on occasion and live like hell the rest of the week. **Their king is self**.
And since it is the Christmas season, let us not be distracted by the music, light shows, food and gifts, but rather I admonish you to maintain your focus on Christ Jesus.
The reason the truth is not celebrated today is because the majority of us who call the upon the Lord as our Savior have lost our passion for the gospel and its power. We can no longer remain silent because truth is not subjective.
The Power of God
Among non-believers, they are unable to see the power of God. But this is also true of professed Christians. But the true people of God do recognize it and are willing to participate in whatever way they can. You see, God is out only true ally in this world. We read:
"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, **who can be against us**?" (Romans 8:31, NIV).
"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world" (1 John 4:4, NIV).
See, the powers of darkness in this world are fighting against those who believe, but Christ in us is greater than these evil powers. The gospel message is the greatest gift and hope ever given to humanity. Do not diminish it with your indifference. Instead, cooperate with God!
Another king - another gospel
There are numerous false gospels that abound in this world, not only today but also in the past. One of these is the health and wealth gospel. a demandable lie.
Then there is the gospel of pleasure. Sure, be a Christian and everything is going to be cool and go your way. Not true. God's gospel calls us to be obedient and seek holiness, though He is by no means opposed to us having some fun.
And how about the gospel of social justice? No government is able to properly serve justice.
Let's look at what Paul had to say about another gospel:
"I am **astonished** that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is **really no gospel at all**. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ" (Galatians 1:6-7, NIV).
So, like Paul said, let's agree with him: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is **the power of God** that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile" (Romans 1:16, NIV).
Nobody is beyond redemption no matter what they have done. Ask the Lord for His help and He will; stop relying on yourself when you have the power of God working within you! And don't make the presumption that you have another day, week or month to make the decision to follow the true King, Jesus Christ.
Asking for a king
Samuel was the last of the judges of Israel. By the time he was old, Israel had no leaders but judges for 400 years. Then one day, we read: The elders "said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have” (1 Samuel 8:5, NIV). Samuel wasn't too happy about this, but the Lord said:
"Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, **but they have rejected me as their king**" (1 Samuel 8:7, NIV). In verse 9 God tells Samuel to warn the people what will happen.
The future of our children
Their future hangs in the balance today and going forward. We need to summon up the courage to speak up or they will be lost and succumb to this worldly system. We need to avoid syncretism, that is, mixing God with other belief systems. Elijah spoke to this very issue:
"Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him. **But the people said nothing**” (1 Kings 18:21, NIV). They were quite willing to compromise. We see this today; it is nothing new.
You see, we have a choice: "Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy” (Revelation 22:11, NIV). God is telling us to go all out one way or another.
Results of serving another king
There are three and they are guilt, shame and compromise. Guilt is a powerful weapon of the enemy. So don't ignore the prompts of the Holy Spirit to make changes in your life.
Shame tells us that there is no way out of our dilemma. It tells you that you are a bad person and always will be. Shame is both toxic and destructive.
Compromise is even worse. Look at Solomon. We are unsure if we will see him in heaven. His heart was not fully devoted to the Lord.
Outcome of guilt, shame and compromise
Quite simply, **it is our silence**. We become immobilized and do not do the will of God, nor do we speak up when 3,000 babies a day are being sacrificed on the altars of abortion! In the end, the outcome is anger and violence. We want it our way or we act like children, pitch a hissy fit, and when that doesn't work, resort to violence.
Resolution
We need to be "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2, NIV).
The Lord deserves our allegiance and honor. He scorned shame despite what they did to Him because he loved us so much.
Failures and mistakes
We who believe have failed but we are not failures. We have made many mistakes but we are not a mistake. Jesus knew is before we were even in our mother's womb! (Jeremiah 1:5).
Remember this and be encouraged: we will see Jesus one day! He paid the price to set us free from th guilt, shame and compromise that sin brings. Acknowledge Him as Lord of your life and put self aside. Again, He is coming one day and we will see Him! Glory be to God!
Free images from https://pixabay.com/
Christianity: SWOT Analysis
Christianity is in somewhat of a crisis but God is moving in this new season of tyrannical behaviors and the ongoing pandemic. For those unfamiliar with the term SWOT analysis, it is used primarily in the business industry.
However, it may be used to assess not only business ventures, but can also be easily used to measure almost anything that is influenced by external and internal factors. With a SWOT analysis, you measure strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
Strengths
One of the strengths of Christianity it the fact that it has been around for around 2,000 years. Though one cannot prove either Christianity, neither can one prove evolution. An individual thus must place their faith in one or the other.
One of the greater strengths of Christianity is the fact that the Bible is inerrant. There are no contradictions, only misconceptions and a lack of understanding.
Yet another strength is that of prophecies. Let's consider just eight prophecies of the messiah (Jesus Christ). Let’s run the math on one man fulfilling just these eight. We have 1 in 2.8 X 100,000 X 1,000 X 100 X 1,000 X 1,000 X 100,000 X 1,000 X 10,000.
This gives us 1 in 2.8 X 10 to the twenty-eighth power. Let's simplify it by calling it 1 X 10 to the twenty-eighth power. Written out we have 1 in 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.
Aside from prophecies, we have an abundance of archeological evidence that confirms many stories as written in God's word.
But our best strength is the Lion of Judah Himself, Jesus Christ.
Weaknesses
The primary weakness in Christianity today is a watered down gospel. Preachers and teachers diminish the power of the cross and diminish what God has done for us in his mercy and great love for us. Many are consumed with entertainment and the pursuit of self.
Instead, many preach a soft gospel that allows anyone to go to heaven. This is antithetical to what the Bible teaches us. For example, we read:
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and **many enter through it**. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and **only a few find it"** (Matthew 7:13-14, NIV).
Yet another weakness is that a multitude of non-believers call Christians hypocrites when they see us sinning or committing mistakes.
What they fail to realize is that we are actually no different than they are, and moreover, **we do not claim to be perfect**. In fact, even though we are Christians, we are still imperfect and still sin. Our goal is to sin less rather than be sinless (which is an impossibility in this earthly realm). Indeed, we who believe remain flawed, still sin and make mistakes, and we all have our specific weaknesses.
Opportunities
Opportunities abound. For one, there are more Christians today than in the history of humanity. We also have access to the Bible and are literate, unlike many people 2,000 years ago. Furthermore, we have the capacity to search online, study online and even take free Bible classes and seminary classes.
Unlike 2,000 years ago, when men walked or rode donkeys wherever they went (and sometimes by boats), we have cars, trains, buses and airplanes that we may avail of to reach the world for Christ as missionaries.
We thus have a unique opportunity to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation" (Mark 16:15, NIV).
Threats
There are numerous threats against Christianity and they grow each day. One of these stems from the increasing hostility and their intolerance of Christianity. Twitter banned 22,000 Christians just this past week.
Additionally, we are under demonic assault 24/7, because Satan knows his time is short. We read:
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, **against the authorities**, against the powers of this dark world and a**gainst the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms**" (Ephesians 6:12, NIV).
But people, even so-called Christians fear man and do not fear God. Many Christians neither read, study or apply the word of God. Many Christians also do not attend church on a regular basis. But the good news is that there are many fine churches that broadcast services live thus there is no excuse to miss solid preaching and teaching.
Conclusion
I could (and should) write a masters thesis on the topic and perhaps when I finish seminary I will. Until then, let's be encouraged, because we know from God's word that God's plan wins out in the end and all non-believers along with Satan and his minions are cast into the lake of fire.
All images are free courtesy of https://pixabay.com/
The Loss of Masculinity in Society
There was a time when men were masculine, a time when men were men and not effeminate embarrassments to their parents. But effeminacy has increasingly become fashionable in today's culture and there are reasons why this is so as well as should not be.
From eye shadow, colorful hair, lipstick and more effeminate behaviors, more and more biological males are acting and behaving like their female counterparts.
Additionally, boys should not be spending inordinate amounts of time admiring themselves in the mirror, seeking out and buying the latest trendy and fashionable clothing, or even taking hours out of each and every day to ensure that he presents himself in such a manner so as to attain validation from others.
None of this should not be so, but there are several reasons for this perverted and growing phenomenon.
Role models
Testosterone levels are decreasing as more and more soy based products are being consumed, but males also have relatively few – if any – strong role models in modern America or for that matter, anywhere in the world.
Add to the above the fact that more and more young lads are being raised by single mothers or in female-dominant homes, because the father has run out for a loaf of bread and never returned. That not only leaves boys without a male role model but then they are carted off to public schools… where their instruction, indoctrination and discipline are performed almost entirely by women, most of whom are liberal-inclined.
Left fatherless, these young boys are left to fend on their own. Of course, they want to be part of the in-crowd, and so they take to social media and observe the habits of their peers and then adopt effeminate qualities that befit their specific tastes. In this manner they are then able to maximize their pleasure and minimize their pain.
Conduct
One's conduct is far more important than looks. For example, watch modern music videos today and what you will observe is horrible conduct. Nearly every pop song is all about me, me, me. This is the false imagery of masculinity propagated to the male populace by wicked, lying minions of Satan who want to separate males from God.
Then venture into a bookstore and see what you find in the male self-help niche. It is rife and totally saturated with the worship of individuality, the assertion of dominance, and the encouragement to conquer at any cost. In short, these self-help books should be in the self-harm section if there was such a niche.
In all reality, the very essence of masculine behavior is the ability to maintain self-control.
St. Basil's address to young men
Here is a link of what it take's to be a man. https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/basil_litterature01.htm
I also encourage you to read Father Josiah Trenham’s lecture series entitled "Reflections on Transgenderism." Link is here but there's a cost, so look around on ODF Drive or the Internet Archive for it.
https://www.patristicnectar.org/bookstore_210716_21
What God says
The Lord our Creator has plenty to say about effeminate behavior. Let's take a look at several verses and let Him speak.
"A woman must not wear men’s clothing, nor a man wear women’s clothing, for the Lord your God detests anyone who does this" (Deuteronomy 22:5, NIV).
"For this reason **God gave them up to dishonorable passions.** For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and t**he men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another**, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the **due penalty for their error**" (Romans 1:26-27, ESV).
"Understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, **the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality**, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted" (1 Timothy 1:9-11, ESV).
"**Do not be conformed to this world**, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2, ESV).
Final words
If you're into self and the effeminate lifestyle just stop it, grow up, and act kike the man God designed you to be. You are supposed to act like a man rather than some creepy rendition of an abomination.
Trust me, if you continue to act in an effeminate manner, you will not only bring harm upon yourself but eternal damnation.
A Carouser, a Cat and a Client
The title sounds like the beginning of a good comedy bit, but unfortunately it is not; it was reality for me last evening. We know life's complexities can come at the most inopportune times. and in droves, and this is precisely what happened to me last evening.
I went to bed at 10 p.m. (30 minutes later than normal) after praying, totally exhausted after having to write a rush article for a client after an extended electrical brownout in my province. I typically arise at 3:30 to 4 a.m., hence my early retreat to my pillow each evening.
The carouser
Everybody knows a drunk, either as a friend or perhaps as a family member. While some are funny drunks, others are mean and violent. Some are functional drunks who one would not normally recognize. Either way, drunkenness is not a disease as many believe but rather it is a sin.
The word of God states: "For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, **drunkenness**, orgies, **carousing** and detestable idolatry" (1 Peter 4:3, NIV).
Still exhausted, I was awakened by my male neighbor, a fellow American, who was so drunk that he was unable to climb the stairs to his nearby apartment, so I let him into my home. He is an alcoholic (in laymen's terms) and drinks daily.
Anyway, he promptly vomited and clogged my bathroom sink, mumbled a few incoherent words about watching American football, and then passed out on a spare mattress where he remains passed out. I had to unclog and clean the sink. Fun task at 1 a.m. in the morning, right?
The cat
Meanwhile, my cat had been out since the early afternoon carousing about, and upon hearing all the commotion, began howling like a banshee for his food.
I began to feel that familiar emotion of impatience tinged with a bit of anger over the circumstances but managed to remain calm. I fed the cat and, of course, he didn't appreciate the food I gave him. He's spoiled wouldn't you know.
As a consequence, I filled up a bowl of water and gave him some other food whereupon he gladly munched it down like a ravenous wolf. Within 10 minutes he was howling to go outside to carouse some more. I don't know for sure, but methinks he has a hot babe in the neighborhood.
The client
Thinking my worries were finally over, and since I had left my laptop on sleep mode, I decided to check my main email where my clients reach me.
Lo and behold, a client needed a rush assignment for his work. He's both an EMT always on call and an adjunct professor at a New York university.
Since the man has been a client for well past five years I could not find it in my heart to turn him down. Instead. I cranked up my Microsoft Word software and began researching his topic on leadership models. Thankfully, I finished his project in a couple of hours and sent it to him. He had paid me via PayPal in advance and it was a handsome sum, so all was well.
Patience
People say patience is a virtue. But that is a philosophical concept proffered by many of the ancient and even contemporary philosophers. I can agree to this to a point since I studied philosophy extensively at university, with a preference for Aristotle and Immanuel Kant.
Now I do not have the patience of Job, I'll tell you that right up front. But what I do have is a modicum of God's word stored up in my heart. These consist of various verses, chapters, and stories found in the Bible.
One particular passage came to mind last night that was helpful in maintaining my cool, and I'd like to share it with you. Perhaps it may help you to memorize it as well.
"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise" (Philippians 4:8, NLT).
My hope and prayer is that you will make it through today with this in mind. Oh, and without a drunk, a cat and a client keeping you from your slumber.
A Deeper Explanation of True Christian Repentance
I was requested by a newer reader to expound more on what it means to repent. Sorry, but I forgot who it was, so my sincere apologies in advance. So let's take a deeper look at repentance.
Some scholars advise that we repent often, some say daily. I am of the belief that we should repent i**mmediately whenever the Holy Spirit convicts us of our wrongdoings** (sins). But I am but an evangelist and lay minister still in seminary.
Saying sorry is not enough
It's a great start, **but repentance is more than telling God you are sorry for your sins**. For example, let's say you accidentally bump into a lady at the supermarket and her groceries spill to the aisle. Most people would say, "I'm sorry," and rightly so.
Some would even help the lady pick up a few of her things and then move on. However, **the right thing to do** would be to pick all of her things up and pay for any damages to her food items, clothes that were stained, et cetera.
These days when we bump into someone when walking we offer a flippant apology. "Sorry," we say, but **we are not really sorry**. The hustle and bustle of modern life has weakened our conscience to the point that we have no real regret to what happens when we bump into someone on the street or wherever.
And the very same thing may said about repentance. We are frequently not sorry!
Many are unaware that repentance was an early part of the new church and we even find many passages in the Old Testament.
"In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “**Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near**" (John 3:1-2, NIV).
The parable of the weeds
Let's take a look at this entire passage **explained by Jesus** because it is important. **Please read it carefully.**
"The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear" (Matthew 13:37-43, NIV).
Christ's explanation
When Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17; Mark 3:2), He was referring to the spiritual realm which exists on earth side by side with **the realm of the evil one** (1 John 5:19).
Thus, when the kingdom of heaven comes to its eventual fruition, heaven will be a reality and there will be no weeds among the wheat. But for the time being, **both good and bad seeds mature in the world.**
One can simply look around and observe this very thing. Of course, **the enemy is Satan**. He craftily places false believers and teachers in the world and in the churches who lead many people astray and to their eternal damnation in the lake of fire.
**The Lost Doctrine of Repentance**
Christ Jesus calls us true believers to repentance, not solely to believe intellectually in the basic facts of the gospel message. This is the easy believeism we hear in the church today.
We hear pastors and priests (less frequently priests) simply say after their sermon: "Let's all bow our heads. If any have heard this message and you would like to receive Jesus, raise your hand."
That's not how it works, friends. Yes, it's a start, but I couldn't tell you how many people have raised their hand **every single time**. You see, **they have no assurance of their salvation**, perhaps because they have not repented or even know what it means to repent.
See, many modern churches preach hope and prosperity, but they leave out repentance. **Repentance is necessary for true Christian conversion.**
The real meaning of repentance
Repentance (the Greek *metanoia*) literally means to **change your mind** regarding both one's self and God. Repentance then is the actual forsaking of our sin and turning totally and completely to Christ Jesus with one's whole heart.
In the act of repentance a sinner comes to a profound, perhaps weeping, godly sorrow over their sins and then turns wholly to God with a heart of love and devotion. **Repentance, then, is at the heart of a true Christian conversion experience**.
And what is true conversion but putting to death our old lifestyle and the beginning of Jesus Christ’s life in us. Conversion is, in a word then, **true repentance**.
Finally, after Jesus rose from the dead and showed Himself to over 500 witnesses, He told the disciples a most important message before He ascended back into heaven, one I pray you will hear today and heed:
"Then he opened their (the disciples) minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and **repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem**" (Luke 24:45-47).
Application
Are you a lost sinner who has not received or ever known Jesus Christ? Or are you a professing Christian who lives like the worldly do? Do you sit in church thinking you are a Christian or do you think you are a Christian because you were born into a Christian family?
If you are any one of the aforementioned, **you need to repent now.** Get on your knees, lie prone with your face down if necessary, and repent. Don't just say "I'm sorry, God," but in a sincere and heartfelt act of contrition, vow to turn from your wickedness and let Jesus live in you.
When you do so, the Holy Spirit will come upon you and lead you, guide you, convict you of your every sin, and He will be your Teacher, because He too is God.
Finally, before I pray for you my readers, please take 1**8 seconds of your time** and watch this brief video. 18 seconds you need to hear.
https://www.facebook.com/pastorallenjackson/videos/438229457974276/
I pray this message explains repentance more thoroughly and that it leads you to live a godly life rather than the life you have been living for the ruler of this world, Satan. In the name of Jesus, I pray, amen and amen.
Why Satan is Winning the Battle
It's no secret to those of us who call on the name of Jesus Christ that this world is passing away and that Satan is winning the battle but will lose the war in the end. But it is our fault as the church as to why Satan is now winning the battle.
I don't know what religious book you read, but my Holy Bible tells me the following:
"Satan, who is **the god of this world**, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God" (2 Corinthians 4:4, NLT).
Angels
We can know that angels were created by God before the foundation of the earth because the Bible tells us so:
"Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone—while the morning stars sang together **and all the angels shouted for joy**?" (Job 38:4-7, NIV).
Satan was one of the cherished angels of God, but that role didn't suit him well. He wanted to be God. His fall to the earth where he now rules **because of pride**.
Furthermore, Satan not only wanted to be God, interestingly enough, that is basically what Lucifer (that old serpent) tempted Adam and Eve with in the Garden of Eden! (see Genesis 3:1-5).
Why Satan is winning
The short and not so sweet of it is because self-professed Christians remain silent. Many wish to remain silent lest they tip the apple cart and make enemies. Well, I've got sour news for you, **Satan is your enemy** and he seeks to destroy you and I.
"**Be alert** and of sober mind. **Your enemy the devil** prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8, NIV).
I'd rather lose every friend I have than remain silent like a weak-kneed pansy. Many of you who call yourselves Christians are full of pride. You choose rather not to lose a friend over winning a soul for Jesus. God is watching you and keeping score. You best get on your knees and repent!
Silence
The silence of the church is allowing Satan to win the battle and destroy souls to take with him to his eternal damnation.
When liberals demand their right to kill the unborn in the womb, the majority remains silent. They don't want to offend anyone. **Offend anyway!** You don't have to be rude or obnoxious about it, but you can speak the truth in love, right? Right?
**Abortion is a polite euphemism for murder**. The abortionists (murderers) scream, "Our body, our choice!" But why doesn't that same logic apply to the jab. Irony anyone?
Satan is a liar!
"You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. **He was a murderer from the beginning**, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, **for he is a liar and the father of lies**" (John 8:44, NIV).
Why would you choose to join voices with him and lie?
And then the church is silent when the "new science" tells us there are more than two genders. **There is not**: there is make and female **only**.
"He created them male and female and blessed them. And he named them “Mankind” when they were created" (Genesis 5:2, NIV).
Speak up! Biology proves there are but two sexes. Or were you singing and dancing and texting your bff during biology class and miss that? You should be ashamed of yourselves!
More lies, more silence
Many say that the Church’s teachings are way outdated. Why, just look at how most of the world believes and behaves today. Millions of people can’t be wrong, right? Wrong!
But the church remains silent. They cower behind a false sense of love. **Love speaks the truth**! Speak up! Have you not read or heard?
"For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for **Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light**" (2 Corinthians 11:13-15, NIV)).
Parting shots
Let me tell you how it is: **stop being weak**. If you are a true believer in Christ Jesus you need to speak the truth in love.
And if you have been frightened about losing a friend over the gospel truth, you need to get on your knees right this minute and repent, tell God you are sincerely sorry, and turn from your wicked ways.
And if you can't or are unwilling to do so, then this simply means you are on **the wrong team and support the lies of Satan**. Therefore, repent or suffer the consequences of your inactions.
Finding Your Spiritual Gifts
As I mentioned yesterday, God has given each of us talents to be used for His purposes, but that we don't always use them. Today my goal is to help you recognize these gifts so that you may use them for the Lord, whether at home, in your community or at your local church.
Now I speak to those who are Christians here rather than those who believe there is no God. **They serve self rather than God.**
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit gives the gifts as He sees fit to give. He is God Himself, not some magical genie in the sky who randomly decides on what our talent will be at birth. He, as God, knows the mind of the Father and His purposes for each of us who truly believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Instead, God calls us to obediently serve Him in **all things**. He will willingly supply us with whatever gift or gifts we require to accomplish the task(s) He has called us to perform on His behalf.
**Praying to God and asking Him to show us our gifts** is the best approach to knowing what our spiritual gift(s) are.
Other ways of knowing our gift(s) come from other people who see what we we do best. Oftentimes, we do not see these gifts for what they are.
Spiritual gift tests
These can also be helpful but ONLY if one is totally honest when answering the questions. For example, I scored a 58% on hospitality and that was off considerably. I receive visitors and neighbors with kindness, though I can be aloof because of my writing work and seminary studies.
Please take note that while these can definitely be beneficial, they are not the end all. However, even if we know our spiritual gift(s), it does not excuse us from serving God in other areas outside of our gifting. For example, we might be called on to clean the church flooring or call on an ailing person in the hospital or at their home.
Anyway, there is a **free test** you can take today. It may take you 30 minutes or even quite less, all dependent on your reading skill and critical honesty. It will give you some insights into what your spiritual gifts are. Try it. There's no registration or anything. If I remember correctly, there re about 100 short questions.
At any rate, the link is here:
https://www.biblesprout.com/articles/god/holy-spirit/spiritual-gifts-test/#spiritual-gifts-test
Biblical gift lists
There are three specific lists of gits in the Bible. One would do well to read the over and consider them. The three main passages describing the spiritual gifts are found in **Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; and 1 Corinthians 12:28.**
**But be careful**. Some of these gifts were for the early church. For example, speaking in tongues is not a normative practice today. It was a way for early church leaders to speak in other languages so others could hear the gospel message.
Today we find charismatic churches supposedly speaking in tongues. This is ecstatic utterance, mere gibberish meant to impress others. If you should attend one of these churches, as I have, you will find that there is nobody to interpret what the person has said, which is unbiblical. But at times, someone will stand up and proclaim what has been said. I wouldn't count on the veracity of this.
Final words
As believers, we are called to use our spiritual gifts to serve God's purposes. Nevertheless, we should be entirely willing to do whatever is asked of us in the church if we are capable of doing so, and in a humble way and with a thankful attitude. May God bless and guide you today as you determine your spiritual gifts. I love you all in Christ Jesus.
Be Encouraged Today - God Loves You!
It's a wonderful Sunday to be alive, to have been awakened by the grace, mercy and love of God. Today I want to offer you some encouragement to help you through your day and maybe through your week. God loves you, **yes you**!
And if at all possible, this message will encourage you for the rest of your life, especially when tough times arise (as they will), when bouts of depression sets in, when anxiety overwhelms you, when you lose a loved one, or when you have done something wrong.
We have all done wrong
None of us are perfect. We have all made mistakes, some of which we still regret. We have all done things that are wrong and continue to do so on an almost daily basis. **But God still loves you and I**!
We have sassed our parents, gossiped, lied, cheated, stole something (even time), had sexually impure thoughts, and we have been angry at God for not hearing and answering our prayers in the timely fashion we expected. **But God still loves you and I.**
These wrongs we do are called sins and **God hates sin**. He cannot look on it because of His purity. and yet He knows we sin.
You see, "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight" (Ephesians 1:4, NIV). If that is not love, what then is love?
**We were chosen**! We were in His mind before the creation of the entire universe! Our small minds find this fact hard to fathom but it is nevertheless true.
God's remedy for our wrongs
Can you imagine offering up your child to be cruelly beaten by soldiers, slapped around, spit upon, whipped with a cord with metal spikes, mocked, and then hung on a cross to die for six hours? Well, God did that to His Son Jesus.
You and I couldn't and wouldn't do it.
But why did God do this to His Son? **Because God loves each and everyone of us**! With His intense hatred of sin, He knew before the foundation of the world that His Son would come to earth to pay the penalty for our wrongs.
This was God's plan to redeem us to Him so we might serve Him with a godly life. But He also knew well in advance that we would all disobey His commands. **And yet He still loves us!**
His plan for us
God didn't create us as toys to be played around with. He created us because **we each have value and worth.** You are worthy! And he has a plan for each of us. Through His unfathomable mercy and love for us, He gave us all special gifts (talents) to honor Him.
But He also knew we would not use these gifts as we ought and yet **He still loves us!**
"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" ( 1 Peter 3:9, NIV).
Repentance
In simple terms, repentance is God's way of telling us to turn from our wrongs and come to Him or to come back to Him. **He does this because He loves us!**
Tell Him today that your are sincerely sorry for your sins. He will hear and forgive **because He loves us!**
And let us show our love for others today as well.
"Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another" (1 John 4:11).
"This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you" (John 15:12).
So be encouraged today. Treat others with the love we know how to give. **Be encouraged, because despite our wrongs,** **God loves us.**
The Day of the Lord
I slept little because I have a considerable amount of writing to do for clients today, hence my late night post.
Unfortunately, many remain in ignorance concerning the eventual coming Day of the Lord. This should not be so, because for the few chosen it will be glorious, and yet for the majority of humanity, it will be a time of eternal separation from God and an immense, eternal suffering.
A disclaimer of sorts
Some scholars disagree, however. Some actually believe that the Day of the Lord will be longer, more than s single day, an actual period of time when the Lord Jesus Christ will reign throughout the entire world before He completely cleanses heaven and earth in preparation for the eternal state of all humanity.
Still other scholars believe the Day of the Lord will be an instant event when Jesus Christ returns to earth to redeem His faithful believers and to send unbelievers to their deserved eternal damnation.
When is it?
**We do not know**. What we can know is that “the day of the Lord” will come quickly, like a thief in the night (Zephaniah 1:14-15; 2 Thessalonians 2:2), and thus Christians of a necessity must be ever watchful and ever ready for the coming of Jesus Christ at any given moment. What will you be doing when He comes? Think about it.
Jesus had this to say about the thief in the night:
"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him" (Matthew 24:42-44, NIV).
Therefore, since Jesus has not come again (as some foolish scholars believe), we can know that "that day" is yet future, and yet certain.
Don't panic...yet
One of my pastor friends is telling his congregation that Jesus may come any day now because of the world's political turmoil. While that is partially true, none are quitting their jobs or selling their possessions. Besides, we cannot and must not base the coming of Christ based on media stories and world events.
Personally, I would not advise anybody do that! You'd not only have no place to live but would likely starve!
A little known fact
Because the Jews by and large rejected Jesus (the Synagogue of Satan), we Gentiles were grafted into the fig tree (Israel). Therefore, all Christians are considered God's remnant Israel!
In fact, the entire body of Christian believers are the spiritual Israel.
We read: "And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, **heirs according to promise**" (Galatians 3:29, ESV).
Glory be to God and His promises to Abraham and to all who truly believe!
The Sixth seal of Revelation
The opening of Revelation's prophetic sixth seal will set off a series of supernatural events that will warn all of humanity that the Day of the Lord will soon begin (Revelation 6:17). Earthquakes will occur in various places as all the planet's continental plates shift with an utter violence never before recorded in history. https://www.biblestudy.org/basicart/why-man-lived-longer-before-flood.html
Furthermore, the sun will darken and the moon itself will appear to appear as blood. Even the stars we commonly observe at night will disappear from the night sky (Joel 2:31, Matthew 24:29, Acts 2:20, Revelation 6:12-14).
But know this
The real action begins on the prophetic Day of the Lord when the seventh seal is opened in heaven (Revelation 8:1).
Therefore, we should be watchful, faithful, obedient to the Lord's commands as faithful disciples. Why is that, you ask?
Jesus tells us quite plainly!
"Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" (Mathew 7:21-23, NIV).
Be careful
The verses above differentiate **from true and false disciples**. Which one are you? Let the reader consider this carefully lest s/he be caught unawares. The Day of the Lord is coming, and while we do not know when, wasting our lives away on self and pleasures of this world are sure signs of an unfaithful one who professes to be a believer in Christ Jesus.
Don't be a Grinch Tipper - a Righteous Rant
I realize a lot of people are on read.cash to make money. I understand the need in these difficult economic times. But here's a secret: **it's better to give than receive.**
The fact is there are many greedy people here on the platform. So here is my fully justified rant.
Some people wouldn't offer a day old piece of bread to a starving man or woman. You should be ashamed of yourselves. Some of you make a nice sum of money here on the #BCH platform, but when it comes to tipping others, you don't give even a penny. **I say this to your shame.**
I know who you are, and won't name names, because you know who you are as well. In fact, many of us know who you are.
You ingrates should know it is a privilege rather than a right to even be on this platform. **Shame on you!**
A 1,000 excuses
If I've heard one excuse I've heard a 1,000 of them. The fact of the matter is you couldn't drive a nail up your rear ends with a 20- pound sledgehammer to drive a penny from it.
Yes, I judge you righteously and rightly so. And lest you misquote the verse not to judge in Matthew, you forget the verse: "Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly" (John 7:24, NIV).
A season of giving
Christmas isn't all about what you can get but what you can give. You who walk by street beggars know who you are, and as you pass by the unfortunate with your smoothies and bags of purchases, you don't even give them a nod. **Shame on you!**
Has your conscience been seared? Have you no heart? Where is your Christmas spirit? Is yours the spirit of the unrepentant Grinch?
The Random Rewarder
Whomever this generous person is, and God bless his spirit of giving, all I hear is whining when he isn't tipping people.
Who do you think this person is - a bank? Does he own BDO, BOA, Wells Fargo, Citi Bank or even Chase Bank? Does he spin yarn into gold? Is he an alchemist who turns metals into gold?
Yes, sometimes he doesn't tip, but I have a question for you: Is he obligated to tip you? **It's a rhetorical for you dullards.** And yes, I speak harshly and with a righteous anger.
And does he work 24-7-365? Do you? Of course not, so why not give him a break!?
Wait, maybe he is a year round Santa?
Maybe that is your thinking, but it is errant and speaks of your greed, as opposed to what should be your gratefulness. **Shame on you, hypocrites!**
Many of you are self-seekers, spalpeens, ronions, rogues, scrotes, cads and wretches, and again I say this to your shame.
You are mindless ingrates who don't even tip a penny! And yet you have the unmitigated gall to whine and cry because you didn't receive a tip? How how pitiful you are!
Here's a thought: start tipping yourself and see the dividends come back! Oh, you didn't think of that, did you? I figured it out straightaway.
Be grateful
If you want money, **earn it**. Cease and desist from expecting handouts. Nothing in this life is free, absolutely nothing. Or how about writing something meaningful rather than frivolous?
You want to know what being grateful is? Well, I'll tell you, providing you have ears to hear.
How would you like being waylaid by five men, then thrown into a 12-foot ditch half-full of muddy sewage water during the Christmas season? And how about coming out of that ditch with joy rather than anger despite bleeding like a stuck pig?
How about being grateful to the physician who stitched me up while we joked back and forth, and who charged me a mere pittance out of her generosity and Christian faith?
Think about others
You who only think about yourself need a change of heart. Think about the plight of others and start giving, Christmastime or otherwise. Cease and desist from being a Grinch.
Haven't you heard? "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7, NIV).
Now bring the heat, you ungrateful naysayers. Trust me, I can take it. My skin is thicker that your thankless skulls. My righteous anger is justified and I dare anyone to say (or prove) otherwise.
What Happened to Our Sense of Humor?
Honestly, what happened? Yes, our world is in a shambles, but why have we stopped laughing? Stick with me here, because I have a real dream to share I had last evening.
As for humor, I don't mean the sitcom drivel on television or in raunchy nightclubs, either. I mean good, clean jokes and laughs.
Word examples
Times change as do words. When we use the word fizzle today we mean failure. But back in the day it meant something different. You likely would never guess that it meant to pass gas, that is, let out flatulence on the cool.
The word clue used to mean a ball of yarn. How did this change to "I haven't a clue?"
And then there's the word spinster. These were women who spun various fabrics. And today? It means an old, unmarried woman.
Flirt. Back 5,000 years ago it meant to flick something away, like a gnat, fly or a pesky mosquito. Today we know it means to toy with someone's emotions, at times in an unkind way.
Gardyloo. Pardon my sense of humor, but that to me is actually funny itself. I'm unsure if it is still used today, but it was in old Scotland. People in Edinburgh used to shout out their windows as a warning before dumping their slop buckets ahem) out of their windows.
Umbrella. We don't know it as any other name. But is used to be referred to as a bumbershoot. Can you imagine walking into a 7-11 or stopping by a vendor and using a bit of an accent? "Pardon me, Madam, have you a bumbershoot I might buy for a few shillings?"
Today people would shoo us away or call the police.
Police: "Precinct 4, Officer Perkins, may I be of assistance?"
Vendor: "Why yes, sir. There's a crazy man asking to buy my bumbershoot. It's outrageous! He's an obvious sex maniac!"
Police: "We'll be right over to your location, Ma'am. We'll send a SWAT team and a mental health professional."
A real dream
Last night I had a peculiar dream or perhaps a vision. In the dream my wife were searching for a new church to attend. We saw it on Facebook. It was a big ado replete with food and rides and games.
Intrigued, we attended and were met by a lot of warm and loving people. Now, it's no secret that I have 23 tattoos from my former lifestyle. It was not a Godly lifestyle before He saved me with mercy and grace.
All of a sudden, a grumpy cop accosted me and asked why I was in attendance, because as he said, "We don't like your kind here."
A crowd gathered to see the commotion. My best please plea of being a disciple of Jesus went unheeded. He said he'd run me through the computer, find a crime, and then would be more than happy to place a set of steel bracelets on my wrists and cart me off to jail.
I felt a little guilt because perhaps I had failed to pay a ticket in my past. But the crowd began to shun me, and some murmurs were heard that I was a wanted criminal. But my loving wife begged me to stay and be vindicated.
A turn of events
As I sat watching 21 cops eating donuts and swilling coffee, and giving me the old evil eye, I had to laugh at their false bravado, especially since I am a trained special forces paratrooper.
Bad cop returned a few times and assured me he would find something on me.
And then he did. In his hands were a set of old clothes he claimed I stole from a home in Wisconsin.
My claims that I'd never been to Wisconsin went unheeded. And then a kindly gentlemen stepped in and asked the officer to allow me to prove myself innocent. He grumbled but agreed.
Well, it turns out that two dead chickens were being ready to be plucked. Summing up my faith, and as the crowd followed, I spoke these words:
"Get up and rise in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!"
People laughed, while others were ready to stone me for blasphemy.
Then the chickens opened their eyes and came to life! Gasps were heard. Two women fainted. But there was more to come.
"In the name of the Lord Jesus of Nazareth. I command you to change breeds so you do not become part of the festival feast."
In an instant they changed to two darling puppies. But there was a catch. Each puppy had four eyes!
Then the crowd changed. They asked me to heal their sick and ailing. But I was unwilling because of their lack of faith. Well, I did heal a young paralytic in a wheelchair all her life.
An elderly women asked me why the pups had four eyes.
A voice thundered from above: "Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember?" (Mark 8:18, NIV).
Now tell me Jesus did not have a sense of humor.
Jesus
Before Jesus fed the 5,000, we read:
"Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of people **followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick"** (John 6:1-2, NIV).
Faith
"Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them" (Mark 11:23, NIV).
Dream or vision I cannot say. But do this: Do not forget the Lord. Strengthen your faith. Be blessed. We can all do mighty works in the name of the Lord. Be ready, because Jesus can return at any time.
Attacked and Ridiculed
Things happen. Ridicule I can handle. Beatings, yes, most of the time. If my grammar is errant, forgive me. I am typing with one finger, and one eye partially closed. The pain I can handle as well.
The situation
I wanted to visit my mates who I have not seen for six months. Normal conversation ensued: talk about our wives, etc. And then religion was brought up. This was my opportunity to preach Jesus.
Some of my mates were getting on about my absence from the bar scene. A few scoffed at the mention of Jesus. But preaching and teaching is my responsibility as a Christian. In fact, everyone who calls on the the of the Lord has that responsibility.
There were all the typical arguments about there was no God, everyone was going to heaven, Jesus was just a man, etc. Adept at apologetics, I refuted everyone of the arguments.
The end result
Without going into the sordid details, suffice it to say I have been absent for a couple of weeks nursing my afflictions. I was too weak to feed myself or even open my laptop.
Thankfully I have a very loving wife. She took the responsibilities that are a man's job. It took a few days to even see or hold my son. That was my main pain.
So all this is not a plea for sympathy but rather there are times when the gospel message will be met with hostilities. Preach and teach it anyway.
Now if I could only see to shave! And my apology for such a short article.
Service to the Community
Better to do than to say. Far too often we quote Scriptures and believe them, but we do not put them into practice. I am just as guilty as anyone.
Church
Unfortunately, most of the language in the churches in the Philippines are in Tagalog or Taglish. And, worse yet, services are 3 hours long and there is a 20 minute sermon. Hopefully that is not true of your church.
While the early church sang worship songs from the Psalms, their focus was not on music but instead reading and preaching the Scriptures. Modern churches have watered down the gospel with entertainment. This should not be so.
Service
While it is true that I have not posted for a couple of days (comments only) it is because I have been serving my local community.
I won't delve in details lest I lose rewards and be like the hypocrites of old, but rather it is a plea to my readers that we must serve our Lord Jesus with good works.
We may not judge our works, because sometimes we do them out of pride or to show others how Godly we are. When we are judged as believers (far diffident then unbelievers), we are not judged for our sins, but rather for our works. Therefore, I refrain from judging from what I have done and I do not judge others. The Lod Jesus, Creator of of the universe and all we see and do nor see, is out final and ultimate u
Community
What is our community? Yes, it is our neighbors. It is our province, city or state. But in all reality it is whomever we come in contact with, even on social media.
If we are on various social media platforms, the people we connect with are part of our community despite the distance.
We testify
It is important that we tell others our testimony. We do not need to expound on our sordid life, but briefly say things such as, "I was an alcoholic, a sex maniac, a worshipper of the world's idols," and then move on and briefly tell what Jesus has done for us and what changes we have made in our lives.
Give
Give till it hurts. When people ask for help, we must be discerning , and we have to between scams for money and actual needs.
Greed is a strong and selfish desire to have more of something, most often money or power.
Let us be thankful for what we have, whether relative wealth or enough to feed our family.
Application
Sometimes we do not have the financial means to give to others. Understood. But we can pray. We can pray for others in our immediate surroundings. I pay for a Muslim woman dily.
Put it on your heart to give but di not do so in the spirit of the Pharisees. Give is secret or as we say, **on the coo**l.
It's Sunday. Please do not merely hear the word but rather apply it. If you have questions, I'll get back to you later, as my wife and I ae tending to @MarileB22 request(s).
May the Lord guide over your lives today as you worship Him instead of your worthless idols.
Free images here https://pixabay.com/
Always be Encouraged!
Absolutely nothing but yourself is keeping you from being filled with joy today, and the same is true of the days that lie ahead. Be encouraged! You and I do not have to live in a state of discouragement because we have a choice to not submit to it.
**Anger**
Nobody can make us angry. **We choose to be angry**. That's a fact. And there are definitely words and actions that push our buttons. And anger is justified as long as we do not sin.
"In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold" (Ephesians 4:26-27, NIV).
We all become angry. Some of us live in a perpetual state of anger. At others. At the world. At our ex partners. At anything!
But note when Paul is saying. Don't let anger take ahold of you. The reason is because Satan is looking for an opportunity to destroy your life in any way he can
Peter knew this very well!
"Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are" (1 Peter 5:8-9, NLT).
Many Christians and non-believers alike have committed atrocious, spontaneous acts of violence and destruction in their fits of anger. Some have paid the ultimate price of life imprisonment or faced the death penalty for their actions.
So be encouraged, we are given tools to overcome our anger.
Overcoming
Hey, it's easy to be triggered these days. I ordered some expensive perfume for my wife and it arrived yesterday. It was a Christmas present. She received it from the delivery driver and said, "Babe, your delivery is here!"
"Oh, which one?" I inquired.
"It's some perfume," she advised.
"How do you know this?" I was perplexed.
"I can smell it."
I took the package into my office and opened it. Sure enough one of three fragrances had a crack and had leaked. I contacted the seller who blamed it on the delivery man. The delivery man blamed it on the seller. It was the typical blame game. I was a bit peeved but I did not sin. Within 10 minutes I was over it. I had overcome the small temptation to sin.
You and I can overcome this anger and be encouraged in our faith once we determine to choose not to be angry and sin.
Godly principles
There are to Greek words in the New Testament that are translated as anger. One of them means passion or energy, while the other means agitated and/or, boiling. You can figure out which one is sinful anger rather easily.
But here is the rub: Anger can only be sinful when it is motivated by our pride. James writes:
"My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires" (James 1:19-20, NIV).
Application
Keep in mind that Jesus is always there for us.
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze" (Isaiah, 43:2 NIV).
"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged" (Deuteronomy 31:8, NIV).
"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:58, NIV).
We need to pray when those times of discouragement come upon us, and we need to stand firm in our faith.
"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord" (Psalm 31:24, NIV).
Take heart that whatever besets us today will disappear. A new attack will come upon us, but we choose to be discouraged or encouraged. Be encouraged! The Lord our God is on our side!
Images free here: https://pixabay.com/
Hypocrisy on Full Display
Hypocrites and acts of hypocrisy are everywhere! Oh, I'm sure you have noticed some, but have you really taken the time to see the bigger picture? We all should.
Media
The media today is merely a propaganda arm of socialists, Marxists and the elite liberal-minded who despise freedom and capitalism and who seek to enslave us.
CNN, Fox News, NBC, the BBC, ABC, CBS, MSNBC, ABS-CBN, RT News, and many more, all spread misinformation 24 hours a day. Every now and again, some semblance of truth slips in, but by and large we who tune in are being manipulated, shaped and molded into slaves who are told what to think and believe.
While we should stay informed, it is best to obtain our news from other **reliable sources**, and just turn off our televisions. Mine hasn't been on for over a year. TV's serve only one purpose: to enslave us with entertainment. Their hypocrisy is ever evident.
The media decries censorship and then censors anybody who does not agree with their narrative. But even though the media is rife with hypocrites, you still watch it, right?
Movie stars
Following stars and celebrities serves no useful purpose. It is simply gossip. It is tabloid fodder for the silly and dull-minded.
We don't need the Kardashians, Britney, Adele, Madonna, Alec Baldwin, Megan Markel or other celebrities preaching what is right to us. They are the ultimate hypocrites.
The red car[et is the epitome of hypocrisy. When I worked in the film and TV industry many things disgusted me. American Idol and America's Got Talent are rigged. Actors smile in our faces on the red carpet and then bemoan their appearance off-stage. You wouldn't believe the things I have heard from some of your (not my) favorite stars and singers.
Even though Hollyweird, replete with its hypocrites and false narratives that abound, you still listen to what they say and gossip about, right?
Medicine
Medicine is great and has saved countless lives. But modern medicine has evolved and pharmaceutical companies and physicians do not always have **our best interests in mind**.
Nowadays, here's a pill for everything that ails us. Pills for coughs and colds, pills to alleviate depression and anxiety, jabs for anesthesia and coronavirus, etc. There's hypocrisy here, too.
Now I have been acutely aware of the lies emanating from the CDCs around the world, and no, I have not and will not take the jab. However, as I have previously stated, that is your decision, not mine. Our bodies, our choice.
But have you seen the latest out of Israel? Israel is the most vaccinated country in the world and has one of the highest rates of new Covid cases. Fact. How could this be if the jabs were safe and **effective**?
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/coronavirus/no-matter-how-old-you-are-two-shots-of-pfizer-vaccine-dont-last-study-685141?_ga=2.170733986.369480656.1636311589-1969581575.1579377799&utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=No+matter+how+old+you+are%2C+two+shots+of+Pfizer+vaccine+don+t+last&utm_campaign=November+16%2C+2021+Night&vgo_ee=ZKJ057dzj7OSp5YIr6dO%2F735hO7C%2FF3J%2FgQB9Uu3XAY%3D
You see, now if you only have two jabs you are considered part of **the unvaccinated**. How many boosters will you wind up getting? Yet despite the lies and hypocrisy, you still believe the Covid-19 narrative, right?
Movements
Various movements are afoot in every society. Black Lives Matter, Antifa, the KKK, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), etc.
None of these groups give a hot darn about anyone but themselves. They are evil to their core. BLM is a fraud and is headed by highly trained Marxists. If they really believed Black Lives matter, why do they continue to refuse Black on Black murders in inner cities? Unlike BLM, God values all lives. But hey, you still believe and support BLM and Antifa because they are cool and despite their hypocrisy, right?
Morality
Ethical behavior is a dying philosophy. Everyone does what is right in their own eyes. Truth is now pushed as subjective, that is, whatever one believes is true is true.
The Ten Commandments are now suggestion to many people and are old news for old people. While this isn't true, that is what the hypocrites teach. See, they don't want to be convicted of their sin so they blow off God as some magic Genie in the sky who they call on when they want their wishes granted.
That's not how it works. Much of the modern church have their fair share of hypocrites, too. This cannot be denied. Many who call themselves Christians do the very same thing as unbelievers, and some even worse things.
So while there are hypocrites in church, you say you don't attend because of them? How hypocritical!
Think about it. Hypocrites and hypocrisy is the real new normal. It's past time we stood up for morality and shunned the hypocrisy of the world systems and corrected the hypocrisy in the church.
Free images available at: https://pixabay.com/
How Many Times Must We be Warned?
Serious question: How many times do we have to be warned before there are no more warnings? Ever stopped to consider the question? Has your conscience ever spoken to you in that still, small voice to warn you and you ignored it? I know I have - more times than I care to remember.
Once I drove drunk on my birthday on the way home from a stock car race. I went through a late yellow light and turned on to a new highway. A highway patrol officer pulled me over and gave me a field sobriety test. I failed and was carted off to jail. Sadly, my little brother was in the car and my step-father had to drive 20 miles past midnight to pick him up.
A second time I was driving under the influence of alcohol (and plenty of it) and was arrested after totally destroying a car I had spent a month restoring.
After just these two events I still did not heed that inner voice and warning but instead did it again! That particular time I had my license suspended but also faced a year in jail. Fortunately for me, the judge went easy on me and I only spent a night in jail because I immediately pled guilty in court the following day.
I finally learned my lesson and don't drink any longer.
Warnings
God has given us all an early warning system. It is called our conscience. We know what is wrong and right and are allowed to make right or wrong choices. However, if we continue to ignore our early warning system, things usually don't go well for us.
I remember a bright young lady who had a very expensive car given to her on her 16th birthday by her father. She was attractive and had her entire life ahead of her: scholarships to university and the whole nine yards. She was always texting a mile a minute.
Well, Texas passed a law: **No texting and driving**. Of course, she like me, ignored this law several times. As for me, I had a hot, red Ford Mustang GT. One day I was driving about 60 kph and was texting while driving. My then girlfriend was in the passenger seat and screamed, "Watch out!"
At the last possible second I jerked the steering wheel hard to the right and missed a stalled car by mere inches.
Back to the teen. She was driving around 120 kph on a tollway. As we know, several hundred meters ahead of the toll booth we are warned to slow down and prepare to pay.
This teen gal was texting and blazed past the warning signs that were flashing yellow lights. It was estimated she never hit the brakes and instead hit the toll booth at the same speed she had been driving. She was decapitated. The car parts were spread for a hundred meters, the engine having been ripped out of the car.
By ignoring the warning she forfeited her life.
**The ultimate warnings**
Our ultimate warning comes from God. When speaking to Israel and Judah, He said:
"It shall come about if you **ever forget the Lord your God** and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I testify against you today that you will surely perish" (Deuteronomy 8:19).
"Yeah," but that was the Old Testament," some will say. Need I remind you dear readers that it is also in the New Testament?
"Little children, guard yourselves from idols" (1 John 5:21).
Everything we put before God is an idol. Spending 40 hours a week in front of a laptop or a smartphone and an hour worshipping God is an error (unless that is our job). Money can be an idol, women and men can be an idol. Statues and gold and food can become an idol. Again, anything can be an idol.
Listen to what the Jesus our God says:
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21, NIV).
That's pretty clear to me. How about you?
Application
Nobody needs to tell us what is right and wrong. An inner voice informs us, warns us ahead of time. Yet we do the wrong thing and ignore the warnings time and again. How many times do we have to be warned before we suffer consequences?
Let's pay heed to warnings, from signs and laws, and especially warnings from God. It's for our own good, unless of course the warnings contradict God's word. Let us pray for discernment and wisdom, for the Lord will freely give it to us.
"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you" (James 1:5, NIV).
All images are free courtesy of https://pixabay.com/
How Can We be Foolish and Thankless?
Everywhere we look there is a spirit of thanklessness in our societies. Many people are so overly consumed with self and what they possess that they have neglected to give thanks for it.
Examples
The next time you have an opportunity to dine out, have a look around at others (do not stare) while waiting on your food. If you see what I observe, you will see that may people are like pigs feeding at a trough. They dig in their food without ever bowing their heads and giving thanks for what they have been blessed with.
Take pizza for example. Gather some friends around and open up two boxes of pizza and watch what happens. I probably don't need to tell you that hands will grab after a piece like a drowning man after a life preserver.
Self and psychology
The world teaches us to focus on ourselves. "Love yourself!" they scream from psychology. What people fail to understand is that it was agnostics and unbelievers in the rise Jesus who came up with psychology.
Andrew Wommack states that "Christianity and psychology have some things in common: They both state that our actions are the product of inner processes" (Wommack, 2021).
Wommack is right but he really does not delve into how far apart the two are. Psychology promotes humanity as the highest standard of truth and morality and rejects faith, the supernatural, and God's everlasting Word.
But aren't there Christian counselors? Yes. Some use the Bible as their guide, while others use a blend of humanistic psychology and the Bible.
Psychology is secular (non-religious, non-spiritual) and is based on the false concept that humanity is essentially good and that the answer to all problems lies within oneself. How can we be so foolish to believe this?!
But God has a far different view. "Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one (Psalm 53:3, NIV).
Even Jesus said: "Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone" (Mark 10:18, NIV).
As for believers, **we trust in God's word**. All of the answers to life that we need to know or have answered are in the Scriptures. And yet many of us are thankless for these truths!
Think about all the people who sacrificed their lives so you and I can now avail of God's word, even at our fingertips! Yet many of us have never read the Bible, or read a verse or two whenever it is convenient, or listen to someone else misquote it. This should not be so. Rather, we should search the Scriptures daily and grow in our faith so we can be more transformed into the image of Christ.
Thanklessness
What does God's work have to say about not being thankful? When speaking to the Romans about unbelievers, Paul aid:
"For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or **give thanks to him**, but they became futile in their thinking, and their **foolish** hearts were darkened" (Romans 1:21, ESV).
Paul also wrote: "Giving **thanks always and for everything to God** the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:20, ESV).
Writing to the believers in Thessalonica, Paul wrote: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, **give thanks in all circumstances**; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, ESV).
Foolishness
There is a lot of foolishness about today. Frivolity abounds, things that do not matter are a waste of our breath.
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Proverbs 1:7, ESV).
Paul wrote: "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18, ESV).
Step away
Are you getting the picture? We need to step away from foolish things of this world and be thankful for all we have. Nothing comes to us that is any good apart from God the Father through Jesus Christ. Let us be mindful of the truth of God and forsake the wisdom and foolishness of this world which is passing away, and cling to the eternal.
**References**
Wommack, A. (2021). Psychology vs. Christianity. Retrieved from https://www.awmi.net/reading/teaching-articles/psychology_christianity/
Images from https://pixabay.com/
Sunday and Our Wages
Another Sunday has arrived. What's your plan for the day? Picnic? Family bonding? Work? Tasks? Shopping? Leisure activities? A day at the park? Church services?
There are as many plans as there are people. Some people are gathered together in one accord, with the same mindset regarding their plans for today. Others will forget all about their Creator and instead pursue worldly pleasures which are of temporary benefit.
Our wages
Some of us work, while some of us are unable to work because of the pandemic. Though I retired a few years ago at 40, I still continue to own a writing business and so while the WuBug has set my business back somewhat, it has really kicked off again now that the US has opened up again.
Yesterday (Saturday) I was so busy writing I took only a 30-minute break over the span of 10 hours. My client wanted a research design on censorship and bias on social media by this morning. Knowing that Sunday's are my day of rest, I worked furiously to ensure I could take Sunday off. And I made some good money for my efforts.
Other wages
Some of us hold various portfolios of cryptocurrencies to supplement our income. There are some people who rely on read.cash as their sole source of income. Earning #BCH which is easy to transfer to fiat money keeps the lights on and food on the table. If one writes well, s/he is rewarded accordingly.
Then there are the hustlers among us, those who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty or do the odd jobs that most people won't do. For example, I know of a woman who lived in Tondo, Manila. She was born with polio which adversely affected her ability to walk.
Nevertheless, each day she arose early in the morning before the chickens and cooked until daylight. Then, despite her difficulty walking, she went around the neighborhood selling food.
Ten years later she was in the United States because of her tireless efforts. She was rewarded for her hard work and consistent dedication.
The best wages
The very best wages come from the Lord Jesus Christ. Or not. It's up to each one of us what our wages will be in the afterlife. We read:
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord: (Romans 6:23, NIV).
**It doesn't get any better than that!**
We either earn or lose rewards based on the works we do for the Lord our God. Each of us has been given one or more of the spiritual gifts to do God's will.
"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good" (1 Corinthians 12:7, NIV).
Therefore, whether we use our talents or not, God's will is done, because He doesn't need us to fulfill His plan. Nevertheless, He gives us these gifts for our benefit.
"To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines" (1 Corinthians 12:8-11, NIV).
What will your work be today? Will you work for self, others or for Jesus? None of these are bad, but I submit to you that the works done for the Lord are of more benefit. Have a blessed Sunday in whatever you do and say.
All images are free courtesy of https://pixabay.com/
A Bucket of Pleasure, A Bucket of Money
Do we ever have enough of anything in this life? What makes us happy? We see a lot of articles here on read.cash about how to be happy. As far as I am concerned, **they really miss the mark**.
We think if we could simply climb one more rung up the success ladder of life, it is then that we could truly find lasting happiness. But that never happens, does it? **Admit it**. There is always something else we desire and then another and another. Sooner or later, we have to recognize that absolutely nothing material in this world is going to satisfy our hearts. Nothing.
Remember King Solomon?
Three thousand years ago, there was a man who made it to the very top rung of the ladder of success. His name was Solomon, and he was the third king of Israel and the richest man of his time. He had hundreds of wives and concubines, impressive achievements inclusive of the Temple and his personal palace (which was better than the Temple God asked him to build), and all the pleasures he could possibly ever want.
He was one of the few decent kings of Israel, the Elon Musk of his day if you will. Can you imagine having all of that wealth at your immediate disposal? I know that is what many people desire. We read about it all the time here on the platform. Years ago I was one of them.
I thought to myself, "If I could only win the 350 million lottery! Wow, babe" I told my wife, "I'd buy you that fancy 3-bedroom condo in Bonifacio Global City, and I's buy myself a new black (or red) Lamborghini."
But I finally realized that happiness came and went on a continuous basis, and that nothing lasted forever but joy. See, there is a big difference between happiness and joy. Joy is always there in one's heart no matter what situation one faces, whereas happiness is a roller coaster of emotions that can change in a flash depending on our circumstances.
The King wakes up
Like the king, one day I came to the realization where, "I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:11).
During our lives we have an opportunity to choose to be like King Solomon or we can choose to have otherwise. Our happiness does not have to depend on our circumstances.
A question and an answer
How is it that we are ever seeking after some new pleasure, some new accomplishment, some new source of money that creates wealth, only to be really disappointed in the end? Well, here's the answer! **It is simply because we eternal beings can only be satisfied by that which is eternal.**
Think about it
The Lord our God has put an abundance of eternity in our hearts. Yet here we are, always trying to fill our heart one bucket at a time: a bucket of money here, a bucket of pleasure there, a bucket of accomplishment over there.
But if we stop and consider this futile pursuit, we should really wonder why we are not getting anywhere close to the lasting happiness that we constantly seek.
The solution
In order to find true fulfillment and joy in our lives, we absolutely require an eternal purpose. Let me ask you, what could be more eternal than teaming up with God in carrying out His purposes? You see, the key to fulfillment in our lives is carrying out the mission of God by bringing people into His eternal kingdom. God created us to do His will and fulfill His purposes for His pleasure.
Ponder this. What will it take you to understand the fact that happiness is fleeting and that apart from God there is no joy?
Images courtesy of https://pixabay.com/
Speak Up and Do Not Fear!
Many people are afraid to speak in front of even a small crowd. Nerves, butterflies in the stomach, vomiting, and an unwillingness keep many individuals away from speaking up. The irony is that amongst friends one can hardly get the same people to stop talking.
University
When I attended university years ago, the core curriculum mandated that a student take at minimum two courses on public speaking. As I sat in the back of one class I was amazed how some students were shaking, mumbling during their speeches, refusing to make eye contact with other students, and how several were totally unprepared.
Yes, I had a few butterflies in my stomach, but I also knew that the worst thing that could possibly happen was that I would forget an important part of my 5-minute speech. As it was, once I opened with a joke everything followed smoothly and I made a 99/100. I had overcome my initial fears.
History
Throughout history numerous people refused to speak up at the right time. Whether out of fear or prudence people remained silent. The consequences included people sealing their personal fate, or country's destiny was decided, and many were exonerated at trial. This shows us that there is a time to speak or remain silent.
During the Salem Witch trials, many people (mostly females) were convicted of being a witch. The testimony of witnesses came from jealous people concerning the person on trial or were cajoled into giving false testimony. Only one woman was put to death, however. Most refused to speak on their own behalf.
During World War II when Hitler rose to power and began his pogrom against the Jews, he enticed the German population to hate certain people: Jews especially, homosexuals and gypsies.
As history demonstrates, over six million people were murdered when the German people refused to speak up. And don't tell me this did not happen, as I have been to one of several Holocaust museums and have seen the evidence.
Testimony
In a court of law a witness swears to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. A multitude lie in spite of this vow. The truly guilty are sure to lie out of fear in order to save their own skin. But even innocent people have been convicted for crimes they did not commit and many have been put to death by false testimony.
Have you ever wondered why few people are ever prosecuted for breaking their vow to tell the truth?
Bible
There are stories in the Bible where people both spoke up and when people remained silent. In Acts chapter 7, Stephen rose to speak and gave a testimony about **Jesus as the Messiah**. It so enraged the Jews that they stoned him to death.
Paul was also jailed, beaten, and nearly stoned to death for speaking up and telling the unadulterated truth.
On the other hand, when Jesus was on trial before Pontus Pilate He remained silent. He was asked to speak but refused, as He knew His destiny -He obeyed the Father even unto death to pay for the all the sins of those whom God would call His own. Jesus, like Stephen and Paul, had no fear.
What about us?
Are we fearful to speak up? It's easy to remain silent and not be subjected to backlash. But I submit to you that many of us sit back and allow wickedness to speak and refuse to refute it.
Here is something to consider as we move forward in life: we must reject evil and speak the truth.
Jesus said: "Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven" (Matthew 10:32-33).
Are you willing to speak up without fear for Jesus or will you remain silent and seal your fate?
Images free at https://pixabay.com/
@Scotty17
