In light of all the crises domestically and internationally, all the legislation that the House of Representatives has passed that is tabled at the Democrat Senate, and Obama’s unwillingness to engage with Congress to solve problems, he’s fundraising on our dime and making jokes about it. “The House is suin’ me for tryin’ to help people! They’re suin’ me for doin’ my job!”
No, sir! They’re suing you for doing their job while failing to do yours!
There are ten items the Constitution clearly outlines for the job of the president. Nowhere is “tryin’ to help people” listed.
Enforcing the laws that Congress is constitutionally tasked to pass is listed as his job. Changing the wording of laws passed by Congress and signed into law by him is not part of his job. Ignoring the Constitution and arrogating powers by re-writing his job description is not part of his job.
Partisan fundraising is an extracurricular activity which he should pursue on his own or the DNC’s dime. He may be in contact appropriately and able to do conduct our business when traveling, but when he’s schmoozing with Beyoncé, he’s not likely solving domestic and international problems subconsciously.
Golfing and vacationing while crises are occurring on our soil certainly gives the appearance of disinterest. Darn those sand traps!
Obama may joke to his admirers about events, but his comments are at variance with the truth. In his world, his job description is what he wills it to be. I would be surprised if his mentor, Valerie Jarrett, doesn’t reinforce that every day.
If one of his minions revealed to him how many times he is the butt of jokes around the country and the world, he might not be so jocular. Of course, Valerie Jarrett won’t allow that!
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Pharaoh Failed to Recognize Jesus: Just like us!
I get a little discouraged at times, not for me, but for and on behalf of God! Why? Jesus was here all along! When we read Old Testament Bible "stories" they are so much more than that. Those stories tell of Jesus because he was there. Let me be clear. God's name is "I AM". Jesus is God. The name of Jesus, the man-God is "I AM". From whence does the name Jesus derive?
Mary conceived a child by the Spirit of God. That child's name was NOT Jesus. Mary was told "you shall call his name Jesus". You see, Jesus already had a heavenly name. It was and is "I AM". The name "Jesus" was his earthly name. "Jesus" is Greek for the Hebrew name "Joshua". Jesus' name in Hebrew was "Joshua" which means "Yah is salvation". Yah (pronounced yaw) is the Hebrew name which means LORD which is God's title. Hence, Jesus means "God is salvation"!
Therefore, Jesus is more than a name! His name represents his purpose. First off, Jesus means the Son of Man, the Christ, is I AM. Furthermore, Jesus' destiny is revealed in why he was born. He was born to save! You've seen the jacket worn by bikers? In rebellion they flaunt "Born to die". Jesus was born to die, but unlike the bikers, his death has a purpose! He died for all of us!
But wait! There's more:
Emmanuel is not a "saving" name. It merely identifies that Jesus is the all-powerful God. Jesus' second name complements his first. Jesus signifies that "God is salvation", but "Emmanuel" validates that Jesus is God! God's two earthly names validate that he is indeed God and that his purpose is to save mankind! Therefore, there is power in the name of Jesus:
God who had flesh and walked the earth is "The Word" of the Old Testament! God, manifested to man with attributes and speech, is "The Word". In the Old Testament, God revealed himself by various means since his presence is so holy that man could not bear setting eyes on his glory. "God revealed" is "the Word" and the Word put on flesh. Whereas before, God revealed himself as light, a burning bush, a cloud, an angel of God, a high-priest, as a man in the furnace and many other forms, Jesus became more than a picture of what's real to us, but became reality. "Jesus" himself, the same God who walked in the cool of the Garden before man sinned, then walked again because he came here so that man could be saved from those sins. His own skin was the sacrifice. That's why Jesus had to be flesh. Salvation is must be by blood and it shed.
Yet still, Jesus lives again. Most people "do not recognize him"! How dense can we be? More dense than Pharaoh who failed to see that the One True God was an all-powerful God and that God came to save his people. Pharaoh failed to recognize Jesus although Jesus stood right there alongside Moses begging Pharaoh to soften his heart and open his eyes. Yes, although Jesus was there, he didn't stand in front of Pharaoh, but chose a replacement. Aaron was there! He was a picture of Jesus. He stood right there alongside Moses and he was "the Word" who spoke for Moses! Aaron's assignment was to become "the Word". He spoke for God on behalf of Moses and his voice was the voice of Jesus. Aaron had no power to speak. It was God, the Word, speaking through him.
It's strange. Even we Christians fail to recognize Jesus. His voice was right there condemning Pharaoh and saving the Jews, yet still to this day when we read about Aaron and Moses, we fail to know it was Jesus who challenged Pharaoh to "let my people go"!
Matthew 1:21 (ESV) "She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”Please note that Matthew defined the meaning of Jesus' name right here! It means "He will save".
Mary conceived a child by the Spirit of God. That child's name was NOT Jesus. Mary was told "you shall call his name Jesus". You see, Jesus already had a heavenly name. It was and is "I AM". The name "Jesus" was his earthly name. "Jesus" is Greek for the Hebrew name "Joshua". Jesus' name in Hebrew was "Joshua" which means "Yah is salvation". Yah (pronounced yaw) is the Hebrew name which means LORD which is God's title. Hence, Jesus means "God is salvation"!
Therefore, Jesus is more than a name! His name represents his purpose. First off, Jesus means the Son of Man, the Christ, is I AM. Furthermore, Jesus' destiny is revealed in why he was born. He was born to save! You've seen the jacket worn by bikers? In rebellion they flaunt "Born to die". Jesus was born to die, but unlike the bikers, his death has a purpose! He died for all of us!
1 John 2:2 "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.""Propitiation" means that Jesus himself was "the offering to God". He died it in our place. Whereas animals were continually sacrificed for the sins of mankind in olden times, Jesus' death was a blood sacrifice, one time, and for all time for everyone! That's what his name means. That's why he came!
But wait! There's more:
Matthew 1:23 "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."The Son of God was also to be called "God with us", since he is the great I AM. In essence there is only one difference between God the Father and God the Son: God took on flesh to fulfill what he said when Adam was created. Man was to be created in "our image". Man was to have a spirit and flesh because in his foreknowledge God knew how he was to form Jesus. Adam was made like Jesus, not Jesus like Adam!
Emmanuel is not a "saving" name. It merely identifies that Jesus is the all-powerful God. Jesus' second name complements his first. Jesus signifies that "God is salvation", but "Emmanuel" validates that Jesus is God! God's two earthly names validate that he is indeed God and that his purpose is to save mankind! Therefore, there is power in the name of Jesus:
Acts 4:12 "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name (Jesus) under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."It's important that the repentant person believes it's Jesus who saves and that there is power in that name:
Matthew 28:18 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."Only Jesus has the power to save and salvation is through Jesus only. The bumper sticker says it all: "JESUS SAVES". God does save, but it's necessary to understand that it was the flesh which was sacrificed by God. That "flesh" has a name: Jesus.
Philippians 2:10 "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth...""God is salvation": what the name Jesus means, is the Way to eternal life! That's the only way.
God who had flesh and walked the earth is "The Word" of the Old Testament! God, manifested to man with attributes and speech, is "The Word". In the Old Testament, God revealed himself by various means since his presence is so holy that man could not bear setting eyes on his glory. "God revealed" is "the Word" and the Word put on flesh. Whereas before, God revealed himself as light, a burning bush, a cloud, an angel of God, a high-priest, as a man in the furnace and many other forms, Jesus became more than a picture of what's real to us, but became reality. "Jesus" himself, the same God who walked in the cool of the Garden before man sinned, then walked again because he came here so that man could be saved from those sins. His own skin was the sacrifice. That's why Jesus had to be flesh. Salvation is must be by blood and it shed.
Hebrews 9:22 (ESV) "Ideed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins."Jesus was here all the time! He was with Adam, Abel, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Shadrach, Joshua and all of the patriarchs! He gave visions to all the prophets! In spite of being here all the time, "he was in the world... and the world did not recognize him":
John 1:9 "The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God."Before Jesus came the people were stiff-necked, Save the few, the Jews always failed to see that it was the Savior (Jesus' name) who was always there saving them! Likewise, when Jesus came in the flesh, the people still "did not recognize him". They killed "God who came to Save them" (Jesus name)! Unknown to them, by killing Jesus, they made it possible for mankind to be saved. Without evil men crucifying Jesus, the man who was "born to die" would have never died for us! The unwitting sinners made it possible that I may go to heaven because I recognize him. He's "God is salvation".
Yet still, Jesus lives again. Most people "do not recognize him"! How dense can we be? More dense than Pharaoh who failed to see that the One True God was an all-powerful God and that God came to save his people. Pharaoh failed to recognize Jesus although Jesus stood right there alongside Moses begging Pharaoh to soften his heart and open his eyes. Yes, although Jesus was there, he didn't stand in front of Pharaoh, but chose a replacement. Aaron was there! He was a picture of Jesus. He stood right there alongside Moses and he was "the Word" who spoke for Moses! Aaron's assignment was to become "the Word". He spoke for God on behalf of Moses and his voice was the voice of Jesus. Aaron had no power to speak. It was God, the Word, speaking through him.
It's strange. Even we Christians fail to recognize Jesus. His voice was right there condemning Pharaoh and saving the Jews, yet still to this day when we read about Aaron and Moses, we fail to know it was Jesus who challenged Pharaoh to "let my people go"!
Monday, July 28, 2014
Convert, Be taxed or Die! A Peaceful Religion?
Since 9/11 the world has been inundated with the phrase "Islam is a peaceful religion!" Even my two evangelical pastors said that at different times. Of course I confronted them with Mohammed's and his cousin Ali's own words! ISLAM IS NOT AND NEVER HAS BEEN A RELIGION OR PEACE! Yes, I'm shouting that for all to hear. The entire world is endangered by this cancer called Islam. I'm not indicting the people, but the religion. However, I will put Muslims into several categories: 1) Innocents who feign belief for self-preservation, 2) Victims who are required to be Muslim because of their time and geography, 3) Nominal Muslims, 4) Faithful Muslims and 5) Extremists who put their violent faith in action, or 6) The non-religious who use their alleged faith as a means of control and power.
Innocents, victims and nominal Muslims are exempt from this critique. They are very much like Americans who are what they are because of their heritage and societal pressures. However, faithful Muslims, extremists and power-grabbers are either terrorists or cheerleaders for terrorism. Where is the public display of indignation of the Islamic people; those in this peaceful (sic) religion? They either fear for their lives and remain silent, silently agree with terrorism, or propagate terrorism! Muslims are cowards! They fear themselves! I would too, and even being remote to their centrality, I fear them for our future! Of all the demeaning epitaphs hurled at conservatives by the "thought police" there is one that is truly accurate: I am Islamaphobic and readily admit it! If you're not you'd better get there. Just as all of Europe feared the terrorist armies of the caliphate in the mid-1400s, fear does not protect. Charles Martel feared Islam to the extent that he had the courage to defeat them and stop the spread of cancer to Europe. Yes, fear makes strong men courageous!
Islam is a pagan religion. Christians consider anyone non-Christian as pagans although the secular world doesn't consider anyone in the four main religions as pagan. Muslims consider Christians and Jews "People of the Book" since all three of the four major religions are monotheistic and use the Old Testament.
There is much said in their own writings about violence, but first let's look at a vintage history book. It's necessary to look backward in time before the thought police were in existence to find truth. They are so afraid of offending (excepting Christians) that truth is subordinate to emotion. Revisionist history is in vogue, but I try to find accurate history. To do so means turning back the pages of time to reveal a little more truth. Hence, Let's go back to 1886 before 9/11 changed truth:
From "What the World Believes" Gay Brothers, New York, 1886):
From "The Religion of Peace" (The Life of Mohammed-An Inconvenient Truth):
Timeline of Muhammad's Life (A.D)
570 - Born in Mecca
576 - Orphaned upon death of mother
595 - Marries Kadijah - older, wealthy widow
610 - Reports first revelations from angel at age of 40
619 - Protector uncle dies (more wealth)
622 - Emigrates from Mecca to Medina (the Hijra)
623 - Orders raids on Meccan caravans (camel pirate)
624 - Battle of Badr (victory)
624 - Evicts Qaynuqa Jews from Medina
624 - Orders the assassination of Abu Afak
624 - Orders the assassination of Asma bint Marwan
624 - Orders the assassination of Ka'b al-Ashraf
625 - Battle of Uhud (defeat)
625 - Evicts Nadir Jews
627 - Battle of the Trench (victory)
627 - Massacre of the Qurayza Jews
628 - Signing of the Treaty of Hudaibiya with Mecca
628 - Destruction and subjugation of the Khaybar Jews
629 - Orders first raid into Christian lands at Muta (defeat)
630 - Conquers Mecca by surprise (along with other tribes)
631 - Leads second raid into Christian territory at Tabuk (no battle)
632 - Dies
Not noted here is his marriage to three young women, one very minor in age, all daughters of wealthy men. That's the actions of a pedophile. His riches and power grew with each marriage! .
Recently ISIS (Fanatics in Syria and Iraq) has said that those they subjugate will either convert, pay or die! Sound familiar? That's what Mohammed intended for his religion and that's what he did in his time. Never ever was Islam peaceful! Satan deceives even God's own people at times:
Innocents, victims and nominal Muslims are exempt from this critique. They are very much like Americans who are what they are because of their heritage and societal pressures. However, faithful Muslims, extremists and power-grabbers are either terrorists or cheerleaders for terrorism. Where is the public display of indignation of the Islamic people; those in this peaceful (sic) religion? They either fear for their lives and remain silent, silently agree with terrorism, or propagate terrorism! Muslims are cowards! They fear themselves! I would too, and even being remote to their centrality, I fear them for our future! Of all the demeaning epitaphs hurled at conservatives by the "thought police" there is one that is truly accurate: I am Islamaphobic and readily admit it! If you're not you'd better get there. Just as all of Europe feared the terrorist armies of the caliphate in the mid-1400s, fear does not protect. Charles Martel feared Islam to the extent that he had the courage to defeat them and stop the spread of cancer to Europe. Yes, fear makes strong men courageous!
Islam is a pagan religion. Christians consider anyone non-Christian as pagans although the secular world doesn't consider anyone in the four main religions as pagan. Muslims consider Christians and Jews "People of the Book" since all three of the four major religions are monotheistic and use the Old Testament.
There is much said in their own writings about violence, but first let's look at a vintage history book. It's necessary to look backward in time before the thought police were in existence to find truth. They are so afraid of offending (excepting Christians) that truth is subordinate to emotion. Revisionist history is in vogue, but I try to find accurate history. To do so means turning back the pages of time to reveal a little more truth. Hence, Let's go back to 1886 before 9/11 changed truth:
From "What the World Believes" Gay Brothers, New York, 1886):
"From the time Mohammed entered Medina he found himself in reality , a monarch, at the head of an army devoted to his person, obedient to is will, and strong believers in his holy office. Finding himself in a condition not only to defend himself against the insults of his enemies, but even to attack them, he began to send out parties to make reprisals on the Koreish... The Moslems furiously assailed their opponents, who after a short battle, were totally defeated and dispersed, leaving a rich spoil to the conquerors. (page 190).
His throne firmly established; and an impulse given to the Arabian nations, which induced them to invade, and enabled them to conquer a large portion of the globe. India, Persia, the Greek empire, the whole of Asia Minor, Egypt, Barbary, and Spain were eventually reduced by their victorious arms... (Mohammed) before his death , had established his religion over the whole of Arabia, and some parts of Asia. (page 194).
"... the prophet (Mohammed) arose and addressed them as follows: "I know no man in the whole peninsula of the Arabs who can propose anything more excellent to his relations than what I now do to you; I offer you happiness both in this life and in that which is to come; God Almighty hath commanded me to call you unto him; who therefore among you will be my vizier and will become my brother and vicegerent?" The fiery Ali burst forth, and declared that he would be the brother and assistant of the prophet. "I," said he, "0 prophet of God, will be thy vizier; I myself will beat out the teeth, pull out the eyes, rip open the bellies, and cut off the legs of all those who shall dare to oppose thee." The prophet caught the young proselyte in his arms, exclaiming, "This is my brother, my deputy, my successor; show yourselves obedient unto him." (page 187).You can see very clearly how "peaceful" Islam was from its start. Islam exists because of violence! It's a hate-filled terrorist religion and those who can read the Koran know that it is! How can a sane person ignore such atrocity? By the devil himself! However, modern Islam is more threatening. It seems that Ali never even thought about beheadings, but that's the murder of choice for Islam. Let's take a look at the life of Mohammed (my comments are in italic parentheses):
From "The Religion of Peace" (The Life of Mohammed-An Inconvenient Truth):
Timeline of Muhammad's Life (A.D)
570 - Born in Mecca
576 - Orphaned upon death of mother
595 - Marries Kadijah - older, wealthy widow
610 - Reports first revelations from angel at age of 40
619 - Protector uncle dies (more wealth)
622 - Emigrates from Mecca to Medina (the Hijra)
623 - Orders raids on Meccan caravans (camel pirate)
624 - Battle of Badr (victory)
624 - Evicts Qaynuqa Jews from Medina
624 - Orders the assassination of Abu Afak
624 - Orders the assassination of Asma bint Marwan
624 - Orders the assassination of Ka'b al-Ashraf
625 - Battle of Uhud (defeat)
625 - Evicts Nadir Jews
627 - Battle of the Trench (victory)
627 - Massacre of the Qurayza Jews
628 - Signing of the Treaty of Hudaibiya with Mecca
628 - Destruction and subjugation of the Khaybar Jews
629 - Orders first raid into Christian lands at Muta (defeat)
630 - Conquers Mecca by surprise (along with other tribes)
631 - Leads second raid into Christian territory at Tabuk (no battle)
632 - Dies
Not noted here is his marriage to three young women, one very minor in age, all daughters of wealthy men. That's the actions of a pedophile. His riches and power grew with each marriage! .
From the Hadith:Sahih Muslim (1:33) "The Messenger of Allah said: "I have been commanded to fight against people till they testify that there is no god but Allah, that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, and they establish prayer and pay zakat."
Qur'an (3:83) - "Are they seeking a religion other than Allah's, when every soul in the heavens and the earth has submitted to Him, willingly or by compulsion?"
Qur'an (9:5) "But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans (us infidels) wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practice regular charity, then open the way for them..."Islam dealt gently with people of the book (Jews and Christians). If they repented and became Muslims they were accepted into worship. If they neglected to convert they were taxed at 50% of what they had. However, pagans (not people of the book) could convert, but if they failed to, Islam wasn't quite as gentle. They were murdered! So here we have it! In Mohammed's time they converted, were taxed heavily or died.
Qur'an (9:11) "But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then are they your brethren in religion"
Recently ISIS (Fanatics in Syria and Iraq) has said that those they subjugate will either convert, pay or die! Sound familiar? That's what Mohammed intended for his religion and that's what he did in his time. Never ever was Islam peaceful! Satan deceives even God's own people at times:
Matthew 24:24 "For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect."
Mohammed was indeed a false prophet, but many thought him to be a messiah. Mohammed is the greatest antichrist thus far and is a cancer on the face of the earth. Christians, being "the elect" are among those deceived! I mentioned that even my evangelical preachers called Islam "a peaceful religion". They were astounded when I read them Mohammed's own words!
Many modern churches advance this false gospel. In Bowling Green recently the pastor was well-pleased when a couple from his Unitarian-Universalist Church converted to Islam. His "church" doesn't even fit the definition of a cult! It's beyond that. It defies scripture and God! Likewise, protestant denominations who are even less in apostasy than this welcome Islam into this country. If even our allies accept the false doctrine of Islam how are we to survive? Truly the world is in trouble. Cancer kills and only solutions such as radiation can wipe it out. Big powerful bombs will melt even the armor of their war machines in a great battle someday. Islam will lie defeated and their dream of becoming the One World Religion with a caliphate (global government) headed by an Emir (antichrist ) will go up in smoke. Rather than seventy-two virgins awaiting the arrival in heaven, millions of diseased whores await them in hell!
So I'm not very politically correct and am insensitive? I'm just the messenger. Don't blame me! God inspired John to write of the outcome we're headed toward. I choose to be apart from sure destruction. Convert, pay or die? I regret that I have but one life to give for Christ whom I worship!
Truth and the Tree
"Tree" in Genesis' Hebrew ('ets) means "to make firm" and is first used in Genesis 2:9 referring to the trees in the Garden of Eden. "Truth" is first used Genesis 24:27 and in the Hebrew is ('emeth), meaning "stability". Hence, the words "tree" (firm) and "truth" (stable) have nearly the same root words since "firmness" and "stability" complement each other. Something stable is firm in essence and firmness is being stable in outlook. More clearly, a "firm" support structure is needed for the building to be "stable". It's amazing that God planned it "all" so well! Of what do I speak?
Jesus is the "Tree of Life"!
Let's take a look at the "evolution" of the Tree of Life. In the garden were many trees, including two specific trees. One tree was an allegory for Jesus. That was the "Tree of Life". Another was an allegory for the devil; the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. There were many other trees in the garden. Perhaps they were allegorical for whatever trees Ezekiel saw!
In the beginning stood :"firm" the Tree of Life, Jesus. He was a robust tree and we know from scripture that three fruits thereon were hope, faith and charity (1 Cor 13:13). There may have been more, but I can't identify them! Perhaps there were twelve fruits as in Paradise. or perhaps there were three fruits all of which fell punctually since Jesus's truth is stability. However, in the Garden of Eden there stood Jesus in full-bloom and fruitful. One only had to partake of the fruit because it was dependable fruit, being truth! Perhaps another of the fruits was "truth"!
Then on one lonesome day the Tree was shorn of its majesty. Like Samson whose hair was shorn and his power lost, the tree was shorn of all it's fruits as Jesus took on all the sins of all men who ever lived. He alone was the fruit on that lonesome tree.
The robust tree in the garden was rejected by Adams throughout the generations. Adams (men) were to tend to the garden and we failed to do so! The fertilizer we used killed off the love required to make trees grow. That fertilizer was the Law! Our antecedents used fertilizer all right, but it was rich in acidity. Rather than nourishing the Garden, the Law withered and then killed it!
Then, all of a sudden, Adams had a new chance.There came a new batch of fertilizer given freely by God, the creator of the garden. His fertilizer was "grace". and it didn't cost us Adams anything! Perhaps another of the twelve fruits is "grace"! Now rather than continually applying "bad" fertilizer each day we get a chance to use permanent fertilizer. We use "faith", a good measure of it" and submit one time. Providing that faith is never shoveled off, one doze of this "Miracle Grow" will do it! Another fruit of the tree perhaps is "faith". After all it's a gift of God and it certainly is a fruit. It matures and grows! It becomes steadfast with time. That too is stable after all!
Jesus in John 4:16 said I AM the Way. That's who he is. That's God's name and likewise the name of Jesus. I AM signifies firmness and stability; the Tree and the Truth!
Since the tree is now tended by obedient Adams, the Tree has grown. It's roots have spread and now that tree's fruit has spread all over the world. Even in times of drought somehow the tree grew even more magnificently! Because of mercy, perhaps another "fruit", times of peril made the Tree grow rampantly! Now the whole world is inundated with the fruits of that Tree. Adams have carried the seeds of the Tree all over the world, so now that Tree is available to all. Perhaps the "trees" Ezekiel saw in Paradise was one Tree, but seen many places. Again, I don't know, but I do know that one majestic giant redwood stands now in heaven! That's the Tree of Life standing right there alongside pure living waters. From that tree I plucked my hope, my love, my faith, my given grace, the mercy I received, the truth, and even found joy, dependence, self-control, protection, righteousness and eternal life. That's twelve fruits. What a coincidence? God's not the author of chance. I'll take my chance on God. It's firm! It's of wood and is stable! Isn't that the Truth. Amen! Verily!
Jesus is the "Tree of Life"!
Revelation 2:7b "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."It's obvious that our reward is eternity with Jesus! Jesus is that "Tree of Life". Hence, we are "made firm" in Jesus. He's the wood that supports us all, dying on the cross of wood.
John 4:16 " Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."Jesus here claims to be "truth" defined above as "stability". Here's a demonstration of the stability of Jesus:
1 Peter 5:7 "Casting all your care upon him (Jesus); for he careth for you."Casting all our cares on Jesus means that we can depend on Jesus. Jesus is stable. He's unchanging!
Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."Now that's stability! Jesus never changes and we can depend on him! He will always be there for us and he will take care of us! Jesus is Truth! So even the casual observer can see that God had a plan from the start! That lone "tree" in the garden represented truth because truth and firmness are one and the same! Later, when Jesus came, he told on himself. He called himself "truth" and demonstrated it by his stability. Coincidence? No! It was God's plan!
Revelation 22:2 "In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."Here we see that Jesus is stable. He's firm (he's that Tree!). He can be depended upon to continually provide fruit. It will be every month without fail! The fruit from that Tree (Jesus) will heal the Christians world wide. The Tree is for everybody and so are the leaves thereon which will heal (save) the Christians. We don't know what manner of fruit will be borne, but Ezekiel had a vision of it years and years before:
Ezekiel 47:12 "Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing."It's obvious that Ezekiel is referring to the same vision as John's revelation. Why there is named more than one-tree, I don't know, but perhaps those trees "of all kinds" are God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Ghost and perhaps the angels who serve Jesus! What else would it mean? Can you see the firmness of that tree; how stable it is? Ezekiel saw the same as John, hundreds of almost 700 years apart!
Let's take a look at the "evolution" of the Tree of Life. In the garden were many trees, including two specific trees. One tree was an allegory for Jesus. That was the "Tree of Life". Another was an allegory for the devil; the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. There were many other trees in the garden. Perhaps they were allegorical for whatever trees Ezekiel saw!
In the beginning stood :"firm" the Tree of Life, Jesus. He was a robust tree and we know from scripture that three fruits thereon were hope, faith and charity (1 Cor 13:13). There may have been more, but I can't identify them! Perhaps there were twelve fruits as in Paradise. or perhaps there were three fruits all of which fell punctually since Jesus's truth is stability. However, in the Garden of Eden there stood Jesus in full-bloom and fruitful. One only had to partake of the fruit because it was dependable fruit, being truth! Perhaps another of the fruits was "truth"!
Then on one lonesome day the Tree was shorn of its majesty. Like Samson whose hair was shorn and his power lost, the tree was shorn of all it's fruits as Jesus took on all the sins of all men who ever lived. He alone was the fruit on that lonesome tree.
Acts 5:30 "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree."Here we have the "Tree of Life" hanging on a tree of wood, the cross. The fruit borne there at that one time was the sacrifice of God himself. He was the fruit which provided eternal life. Adam and Eve failed to eat of that fruit way back then, but now the line of Adam has the same choice to make. The fruit is there! Shall I eat of it? Those who eat thereof have eternal life. That's "hope" one of the known fruits of that tree! If anyone fails to eat of the Tree of Life who was crucified on the lonesome tree of wood, by default eats of the contaminated tree whose fruit leads to death: love of wealth, pleasure and reason are the poisons fruits of that tree.
The robust tree in the garden was rejected by Adams throughout the generations. Adams (men) were to tend to the garden and we failed to do so! The fertilizer we used killed off the love required to make trees grow. That fertilizer was the Law! Our antecedents used fertilizer all right, but it was rich in acidity. Rather than nourishing the Garden, the Law withered and then killed it!
Then, all of a sudden, Adams had a new chance.There came a new batch of fertilizer given freely by God, the creator of the garden. His fertilizer was "grace". and it didn't cost us Adams anything! Perhaps another of the twelve fruits is "grace"! Now rather than continually applying "bad" fertilizer each day we get a chance to use permanent fertilizer. We use "faith", a good measure of it" and submit one time. Providing that faith is never shoveled off, one doze of this "Miracle Grow" will do it! Another fruit of the tree perhaps is "faith". After all it's a gift of God and it certainly is a fruit. It matures and grows! It becomes steadfast with time. That too is stable after all!
Jesus in John 4:16 said I AM the Way. That's who he is. That's God's name and likewise the name of Jesus. I AM signifies firmness and stability; the Tree and the Truth!
Since the tree is now tended by obedient Adams, the Tree has grown. It's roots have spread and now that tree's fruit has spread all over the world. Even in times of drought somehow the tree grew even more magnificently! Because of mercy, perhaps another "fruit", times of peril made the Tree grow rampantly! Now the whole world is inundated with the fruits of that Tree. Adams have carried the seeds of the Tree all over the world, so now that Tree is available to all. Perhaps the "trees" Ezekiel saw in Paradise was one Tree, but seen many places. Again, I don't know, but I do know that one majestic giant redwood stands now in heaven! That's the Tree of Life standing right there alongside pure living waters. From that tree I plucked my hope, my love, my faith, my given grace, the mercy I received, the truth, and even found joy, dependence, self-control, protection, righteousness and eternal life. That's twelve fruits. What a coincidence? God's not the author of chance. I'll take my chance on God. It's firm! It's of wood and is stable! Isn't that the Truth. Amen! Verily!
Political: Dr. Tim Husley on Grimes and her Socialist Friends in Power
A group of Kentucky Democrats (Alison Grimes wasn't among them) recently met
with the Democrat in Chief's staff about his war on the coal industry which has
cost thousands of jobs in the Commonwealth and other states. They described
their discussion as "heated."
I doubt that the self-appointed Protector in Chief of the environment even knew
they were there.
It is incredible that a president or any other single individual can cause the
collapse of an entire industry, destroy tens of thousands of jobs, and make
American citizens pay more for energy all to secure a voting block.
Obama doesn't believe in anything other than himself and his socialist agenda.
The global warming controversy is a left wing agenda that invokes increased
federal control and begs for the authority of a dictator to achieve their ends.
That meshes with desires of the Socialist in Chief perfectly.
The fact that cheap power was the single largest factor in world development and
is due to the existence of fossil fuels are facts not recognized in Obama's
sphere. If Africa were allowed to use their coal reserves to make electricity
widely available, the lives of millions would be dramatically improved.
The ecoimperialism of Obama and the environmental movement, however, wants to
de-develop the western world and to prevent any further development of other
parts of the world. If de-development doesn't make sense to you, you're not
alone. It isn't going to happen without a global apocalypse. They are succeeding
in imprisoning Africa shamefully.
Obama conned the nation with lies and rhetoric and has usurped dictatorial,
unconstitutional power, yet Congress won't won't impeach him for the worst abuse
of the office of the president in history.
Obama's incompetence is not due to his race, but the absence of impeachment is.
with the Democrat in Chief's staff about his war on the coal industry which has
cost thousands of jobs in the Commonwealth and other states. They described
their discussion as "heated."
I doubt that the self-appointed Protector in Chief of the environment even knew
they were there.
It is incredible that a president or any other single individual can cause the
collapse of an entire industry, destroy tens of thousands of jobs, and make
American citizens pay more for energy all to secure a voting block.
Obama doesn't believe in anything other than himself and his socialist agenda.
The global warming controversy is a left wing agenda that invokes increased
federal control and begs for the authority of a dictator to achieve their ends.
That meshes with desires of the Socialist in Chief perfectly.
The fact that cheap power was the single largest factor in world development and
is due to the existence of fossil fuels are facts not recognized in Obama's
sphere. If Africa were allowed to use their coal reserves to make electricity
widely available, the lives of millions would be dramatically improved.
The ecoimperialism of Obama and the environmental movement, however, wants to
de-develop the western world and to prevent any further development of other
parts of the world. If de-development doesn't make sense to you, you're not
alone. It isn't going to happen without a global apocalypse. They are succeeding
in imprisoning Africa shamefully.
Obama conned the nation with lies and rhetoric and has usurped dictatorial,
unconstitutional power, yet Congress won't won't impeach him for the worst abuse
of the office of the president in history.
Obama's incompetence is not due to his race, but the absence of impeachment is.
Saturday, July 26, 2014
You Worthless Fool: Anger with a penalty
We're to love one another! People can quit smoking, cursing, drinking, fornicating, and about any other sin, but the sin of "doing" is so much harder than "not doing"! I'm speaking of loving one another. God commands us to do that. It's a corollary to "loving God". If we love God we follow another commandment... we love others. Hence, if we love God, we are obedient to loving others and if we fail to love others we're not loving God. Loving others is as important as loving God because God tells us to do just that!
Anger seems at odds with love. However, there is righteous anger and wrongful anger. Whenever we support the will of God, it's righteous anger, but when we oppose God's will, it's sinful anger. Even when we are supporting God, our anger must be under control. We're not to judge harshly, even by a different standard than we want others to judge us. By judging harshly we condemn the one that we're commanded to love!
"Don't get mad, get even!" is a popular refrain, but not a righteous one! It's at total odds with Matthew 5:43. Rather than get even we're to bless our enemy, do good to them and pray for them; not that our will be done, but God's will.
Anger without a cause is sinful anger. That means that there is appropriate anger because there is a cause. It should make a Christian angry when a life is taken, someone is bullied, people commit adultery, someone steals from you or others denigrate God who you cherish! (Wow! That does include our government: They legalized abortion, they bully citizens by various repressive laws, their entitlements encourage moral wrong, they tax unfairly and steal hard earned wages which they waste, and they denigrate God with secular humanistic laws!)
It's established. There is "just" anger. Unjust anger includes hate. Hateful words includes name-calling. Remember, we're to demonstrate acts of love for our enemies; our neighbors. Calling others "fools" is not feeding and giving drink. It's a hateful and disobedient action! By loving them doesn't mean that they are not fools, but you are to love even those who're foolish!
Few believe in hell anymore! However, if we don't follow God's commandments we are in "danger of hell fire". What commandment is that? Loving God by showing love to others! Hell is not just the grave or a place of desolation. It's a hot place where the disobedient are punished. Yes, it seems unfair, but God gives us every chance in the world to be saved from eternal fire and what is that? We're to love! It's not a requirement that's unbearable, but a gift from God. We don't even have to love on our own, but turn to God and he will bestow love into our heart.
God's grace is an easy burden to bear. We are to obey, then God makes it easy to do just that. Most people just can't submit themselves to God to get all his free stuff. The penalty for pride is severe. Don't go there! Love one another.
Anger seems at odds with love. However, there is righteous anger and wrongful anger. Whenever we support the will of God, it's righteous anger, but when we oppose God's will, it's sinful anger. Even when we are supporting God, our anger must be under control. We're not to judge harshly, even by a different standard than we want others to judge us. By judging harshly we condemn the one that we're commanded to love!
Matthew 22:39b "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
Matthew 5:43b "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you..."Both verses are quoted to demonstrate the loving is not "picking and choosing"! It's easy to love the lovable, but we're called to do so much more than that! We're to love our enemies. They too are our "neighbors". The enemy are those with whom we're at odds. It's likely that our enemies are the ones who make us angry! Even friends who anger us become the enemy! Humans have an inherited system of survival. Since we all are prone to worship our "self", when others encroach on the comfort and pleasure of the self, anger results. That's not righteous anger!
"Don't get mad, get even!" is a popular refrain, but not a righteous one! It's at total odds with Matthew 5:43. Rather than get even we're to bless our enemy, do good to them and pray for them; not that our will be done, but God's will.
Romans 12:20 "Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head."We're to do good for those who are our enemies. By taking the high ground we cannot be rightfully attacked. If our enemy does seek retribution then he heaps troubles upon himself. The alternate is a feeling of a sense of guilt and the fire of guilt may cause one to change. Either way, we're to do good and let the enemy have consequences of our love. God does the rest. We are only to love! What do we get out of it?
Proverbs 25:21 'If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: 22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee."The Old Testament and the New agree! For doing good to our enemies "the Lord shall reward thee". That's in itself can makes the enemy "burn" because their desire is for you to suffer, but instead the Lord gives the gives a reward. That's hardly satisfying to the enemy and may even make them seethe with anger, wishing you evil, but seeing you rewarded! I believe that "heaping coals" can be for good or bad. The enemy makes his own decision based on their own spiritual condition! (Note: Being the "enemy" doesn't necessarily mean that you're the sinful one!)
Anger without a cause is sinful anger. That means that there is appropriate anger because there is a cause. It should make a Christian angry when a life is taken, someone is bullied, people commit adultery, someone steals from you or others denigrate God who you cherish! (Wow! That does include our government: They legalized abortion, they bully citizens by various repressive laws, their entitlements encourage moral wrong, they tax unfairly and steal hard earned wages which they waste, and they denigrate God with secular humanistic laws!)
It's established. There is "just" anger. Unjust anger includes hate. Hateful words includes name-calling. Remember, we're to demonstrate acts of love for our enemies; our neighbors. Calling others "fools" is not feeding and giving drink. It's a hateful and disobedient action! By loving them doesn't mean that they are not fools, but you are to love even those who're foolish!
Matthew 5:22 "But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.""Raca" is a word meaning "worthless". Like fool, we're not to tell someone that they're worthless. Everyone has value to God and calling another "worthless" is a harsh judgment with condemnation. Again, "worthless", as "fool" isn't in the spirit of loving others, and certainly shows no love to out enemy!
Few believe in hell anymore! However, if we don't follow God's commandments we are in "danger of hell fire". What commandment is that? Loving God by showing love to others! Hell is not just the grave or a place of desolation. It's a hot place where the disobedient are punished. Yes, it seems unfair, but God gives us every chance in the world to be saved from eternal fire and what is that? We're to love! It's not a requirement that's unbearable, but a gift from God. We don't even have to love on our own, but turn to God and he will bestow love into our heart.
God's grace is an easy burden to bear. We are to obey, then God makes it easy to do just that. Most people just can't submit themselves to God to get all his free stuff. The penalty for pride is severe. Don't go there! Love one another.
Friday, July 25, 2014
Politics: Dr. Tim Hulsey - Lying and those in Power
I’m naive enough to think that the elected leaders of our country don’t look the American People in the eye and tell you things they know to be false. I know politicians torture the truth, but to actually kill it still surprises and angers me.
Lying to American citizens should be an impeachable offense. What could be a worse breach of your duty? You could argue that many politicians would be affected, and I couldn’t argue much. That doesn’t alter the fact that lying is not a good attribute for people charged with making decisions for us.
I view of “Word on the street has it that Mitt Romney hasn’t paid taxes for ten years” to “If you like your health insurance, you can keep it” to “Benghazi happened because of an internet video” to “[The IRS targeting] was done by rogue agents in Cincinnati” to “There’s not a smidgen of corruption [in the IRS]” to “I didn’t know until I read it in the news” to “I don’t listen to the news, because I already know what they’re reporting” to “Lois Lerner’s emails were lost” to “We didn’t allow guns to go to Mexican drug cartels” to “all those tragic problems caused by Obamacare are lies,” etc., etc., etc., all elected and career federal employees feel they have a “License to Lie!”
Bush was wrong about WMD in Sadaam Hussein’s Iraq along with most prominent Democrats, but they were just mistaken. There is a moral difference between mistakes and lies.
Impeachment was meant to take care of malfeasance in office. Congressmen and Congresswomen need to man up!
Lying to American citizens should be an impeachable offense. What could be a worse breach of your duty? You could argue that many politicians would be affected, and I couldn’t argue much. That doesn’t alter the fact that lying is not a good attribute for people charged with making decisions for us.
I view of “Word on the street has it that Mitt Romney hasn’t paid taxes for ten years” to “If you like your health insurance, you can keep it” to “Benghazi happened because of an internet video” to “[The IRS targeting] was done by rogue agents in Cincinnati” to “There’s not a smidgen of corruption [in the IRS]” to “I didn’t know until I read it in the news” to “I don’t listen to the news, because I already know what they’re reporting” to “Lois Lerner’s emails were lost” to “We didn’t allow guns to go to Mexican drug cartels” to “all those tragic problems caused by Obamacare are lies,” etc., etc., etc., all elected and career federal employees feel they have a “License to Lie!”
Bush was wrong about WMD in Sadaam Hussein’s Iraq along with most prominent Democrats, but they were just mistaken. There is a moral difference between mistakes and lies.
Impeachment was meant to take care of malfeasance in office. Congressmen and Congresswomen need to man up!
Twisted Sister and his Brothers
Probably what I hate most in the world is the hard rock music culture. For me its more at odds with Christianity than any other entertainment medium. Even acting in Hollywood pales in debauchery compared to the likes of Twisted Sister, Boy George, and the "heavy metal" genre of music. It's more than the music itself, much of which is described as head-banging, but encompasses much twisted behavior.
Beyonce channels an evil spirit called "Sasha Fierce" who, according to her own words, takes her over when she's singing. Why would a sane person want to listen to insanity at best and demon-influenced music at worst?
Then we have Jimi Hendrix. Many worship him and his music. His girlfriend, Fayne Pridgon, who said in her book: “He used to always talk about some devil or something [that] was in him, you know. He didn’t know what made him act the way he acted and what made him say the things he said, and the songs and different things like that … just came out of him. He really was obsessed, you know, with something really evil.”
I could go on and on about the antics of those onstage, but have to admit that I'm not savvy to that scene. All I see is what's displayed as I watch those "awful" news programs, history, travel and documentaries. However, it's easy to spot the rebellion and indoctrination in the music of popular entertainers. During my day anti-war music was in vogue. Being a supporter of my nation and a patriot I never listened to it. I believed it to be disrespectful of those fighting on behalf of me to listen to music which led to protests which got our soldiers killed!
Likewise, I never watch Jane Fonda and "stars" like her because they're the bottom of the barrel of humankind! They're almost as bad as those doctors who are inhumane enough to murder unborn babies, which by the way, the liberal music and acting industry supports whole-heartedly!
I'm not indicting all rock music although most of it I have no desire to hear. Even most rock musicians espouse political beliefs that condemns my own, and I have no desire to support or even listen to those who hate my views. There's just better things to do with my time and certainly better genres for my entertainment.
The library shelves are full of psychology research which tell of the power and influence of music in society. That's why writers wrote anti-war lyrics. It was a way to get a message across under the guise of entertainment. It works well! Many people put rock music above all else. It's their God! I criticized the beliefs of John Lennon by referring to his views as "soap scum". Although what he believed was 100% narcissistic (More popular than Jesus) and his religion pagan, the person to whom I said that got quite angry!
In answer to the blog question: "Was Jimi Hendrix possessed by demons?" look at some of the responses:
"Rock Music" (Rock'n Roll) itself is named for 'backseat sex". Even it's name is unrighteous! God being holy and nothing unholy is acceptable to him, I just question why music which is so licentious is so loved by Christians! Some would say that I'm too uptight and should loosen up. That's exactly what music is supposed to do and I'm about as loose as I want to be!
Who are your heroes? Is it Twisted Sister, Beyonce, Jimi Hendrix, Lady Gaga, or even Miley Cyrus? Then perhaps you should question whether your joy is with the world or with the Lord:
I have problem in several areas of my life, but entertainment isn't one of them. When licentious entertainment comes on I turn off! When rebellious music causes others heads to bang, my heart bangs with irritation. When music with a hidden political message comes on, I'm offended at the encroachment upon my beliefs. It's just not pleasure to listen to what's disgusting!
Oh, did I fail to mention the drug culture? Rock music and the world of Hollywood is saturated with drug use. I just can't seem to be entertained by those who may not even know what planet they're on. Those who depend on chemicals for existence are neglecting God and are in rebellion. I have no desire to hear the sweet song of Mary Jane! Listening to potheads such as Willie Nelson is not setting myself apart from the world!
Yes, you can disagree with my commentary! That's okay. I don't claim to be the final word. Just use God's scale to weigh everything. It's fair and equitable!
Beyonce channels an evil spirit called "Sasha Fierce" who, according to her own words, takes her over when she's singing. Why would a sane person want to listen to insanity at best and demon-influenced music at worst?
Then we have Jimi Hendrix. Many worship him and his music. His girlfriend, Fayne Pridgon, who said in her book: “He used to always talk about some devil or something [that] was in him, you know. He didn’t know what made him act the way he acted and what made him say the things he said, and the songs and different things like that … just came out of him. He really was obsessed, you know, with something really evil.”
I could go on and on about the antics of those onstage, but have to admit that I'm not savvy to that scene. All I see is what's displayed as I watch those "awful" news programs, history, travel and documentaries. However, it's easy to spot the rebellion and indoctrination in the music of popular entertainers. During my day anti-war music was in vogue. Being a supporter of my nation and a patriot I never listened to it. I believed it to be disrespectful of those fighting on behalf of me to listen to music which led to protests which got our soldiers killed!
Likewise, I never watch Jane Fonda and "stars" like her because they're the bottom of the barrel of humankind! They're almost as bad as those doctors who are inhumane enough to murder unborn babies, which by the way, the liberal music and acting industry supports whole-heartedly!
I'm not indicting all rock music although most of it I have no desire to hear. Even most rock musicians espouse political beliefs that condemns my own, and I have no desire to support or even listen to those who hate my views. There's just better things to do with my time and certainly better genres for my entertainment.
The library shelves are full of psychology research which tell of the power and influence of music in society. That's why writers wrote anti-war lyrics. It was a way to get a message across under the guise of entertainment. It works well! Many people put rock music above all else. It's their God! I criticized the beliefs of John Lennon by referring to his views as "soap scum". Although what he believed was 100% narcissistic (More popular than Jesus) and his religion pagan, the person to whom I said that got quite angry!
In answer to the blog question: "Was Jimi Hendrix possessed by demons?" look at some of the responses:
killingj0ke answered 3 years ago
if he was, then i wish theyd possess me too. the man was a legend, an icon. but most great guitarists have the whole demon worship sh*t going on (jimmy page for example, just something i read). even if these men were "possessed by demons" theyre legends, and their music will live forever. why wouldnt a demon possess them? i would, if i was a demon.
lil'bitt answered 3 years agoExcuse their language, but that seems to be the type of people who listen to hard rock music!
If he was then he was possessed by some damn cool demons...
"Rock Music" (Rock'n Roll) itself is named for 'backseat sex". Even it's name is unrighteous! God being holy and nothing unholy is acceptable to him, I just question why music which is so licentious is so loved by Christians! Some would say that I'm too uptight and should loosen up. That's exactly what music is supposed to do and I'm about as loose as I want to be!
2 Corinthians 6:17 (ESV) "Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you..."Certainly what we're to separate from is subjective, but in separating I seek the will of God. If a person believes God and accepts the rebellion of heavy metal rock music, that's between them and God. Let me suggest that those who are in unity with that culture reexamine scripture with righteousness in mind!
1 John 2:15 (ESV) "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."Listening to a few secular songs is certainly not damning, but one should examine what's important to them and in what they dwell. If one's life is dedicated to recreation, that's a sin of omission. Our heart should belong to God! Even worse is when a person's heart is dedicated to what God finds offensive! Although, it would be silly for me to define what kind of music God enjoys, here's a clue right from him:
Ephesians 5:19 (ESV) "Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart..."Our music is to god-focused! And what genre should it be? "Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs!" The astute listener who's discerning should know that Twisted Sister is hardly focused on the Lord and it's headbanging beat is not psalms and hymns! We don't always have to sing about the Lord just as we don't have to play golf for the Lord. However, none of our pleasures should supplant time with the Lord and never should it be licentious!
Who are your heroes? Is it Twisted Sister, Beyonce, Jimi Hendrix, Lady Gaga, or even Miley Cyrus? Then perhaps you should question whether your joy is with the world or with the Lord:
James 4:4 (ESV) "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.Christians are to be set apart from God. Does our life reflect that. I'm not to judge you, but I can give you these words so that you can do a self-evaluation. For me the rock and entertainment world is disgusting and to be honest, my standards are much lower than God's because I fail him often! However, as a teenager God gave me discernment to turn away from much popular entertainment. Even the Beatles, popular at that time, and mild by today's standards sang a different tune than what I believed. Most people didn't care that songs such as Yellow Submarine was a song of the drug culture, but I did! It's much easier to go along with the world than shunning it, but that's Christian principle and obedience!
I have problem in several areas of my life, but entertainment isn't one of them. When licentious entertainment comes on I turn off! When rebellious music causes others heads to bang, my heart bangs with irritation. When music with a hidden political message comes on, I'm offended at the encroachment upon my beliefs. It's just not pleasure to listen to what's disgusting!
Oh, did I fail to mention the drug culture? Rock music and the world of Hollywood is saturated with drug use. I just can't seem to be entertained by those who may not even know what planet they're on. Those who depend on chemicals for existence are neglecting God and are in rebellion. I have no desire to hear the sweet song of Mary Jane! Listening to potheads such as Willie Nelson is not setting myself apart from the world!
Yes, you can disagree with my commentary! That's okay. I don't claim to be the final word. Just use God's scale to weigh everything. It's fair and equitable!
1 Peter 5:8 (ESV) "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."
1 John 4:1 (ESV) "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world."Test the spirit of the music to which you listen. Does it magnify God or the world? Would God be pleased that you listen to it? Areyou a devoted follower? With God we can't be "Mugwumps". We can't have one leg on that spiritual fence with God and the other leg on the side of Satan. That's not God's will. That's not what Christians are called to do!
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Consulting Baal-Zebub
"The devil, you say!" Uncle Fred at age 99, when telling a ribald story, would always commence by saying "The Devil got into me and I (did this)!" and then he would go on with his story. Many disallow it, but "the devil is real! In the Old Testament he is referred to by many names, but the name of the sun god "Baal" was borrowed and altered for his name:
Baal-Zebub or Beelzebub was a Philistine (pagan) god which means "Lord of the Flies" or "the devil". For the scholar it's noted that one of the most literary books for required reading in high school is Lord of the Flies. In the book "the Beast" is the monster within the water and took on life because of a parachutist whose landing caused him to flounder in the water. The Beast represents the monster within us all.The "Lord of the Flies" was a decapitated pig who became an emblem of that which provokes the beast within us. Obviously, the book is an allegorical story about the battle between "good" and "evil". Evil is the result of the devil's work and is whatever is in opposition to God. It's sin. It's unrighteousness! Truly the devil is a monster and the Lord of the Flies is the evil spirit of Satan who tempts us!
King Ahaziah tampered with this Lord of the Flies; the Beast:
The "angel of the Lord" in contrast to "an angel of the Lord", is "The Word" which was with us in Old Testament times. (Angel means messenger and the messenger speaks "the word", hence this Angel is The Word which became Jesus!) The Word was troubled. He asked a rhetorical question "Is it because I don't exist?" God, who was to become Emmanuel, was not respected and he was sorely disappointed, just as he is with us when we turn away from God to find answers elsewhere
We may not think about it, but if we seek and accept answers from a source in disagreement with God's Word, then it's turning to the same Beelzebub. "The devil got into me!" as Uncle Fred would say. None are immune from deception. We all fall victim to the lies and deceit of the devil and he puts just enough "good" into the evil advice to make it palatable, even to the non-discerning Christian.
When my son was in drug rehab I became enamored with the mystery of counseling. I believed that the psychologist had "secret knowledge" where he could bend the minds of the children and cure the addictions. I had the same faith as King Ahaziah! I consulted the writings of Beelzebub over God's word. I was so enthralled with this alternate "cure" that although I was and engineer, I commenced my graduate degree in psychology, turning to counseling later on.
For some reason, as I was earning my credentials in what I now call "psychobabble", I read my Bible cover to cover. Most of what I studied was at odds with God's word with just enough benign strategies and "right" taught to make it palatable. Since many Christians want to help people they are drawn to the psychology field. Their intentions are good, but they seek Beelzebub, as I did!
First off, according to their own words, (paraphrased) "No research has been done where anyone has improved more with therapy than without." That's an honest admission, but for some reason people still fall prey to the theory of psychology. (No, it's not truly a science, but a faith... a religion). In fact psychology means "study of the soul"! Did you know that? I didn't! I made a statement to my professor: "Psychology appears to be another religion!" She replied "Are you just now figuring that out?" and later she said "Our job is not to teach, but to remold!" Being a realist I understood "remold" to mean "brainwash"!
Do we turn to other things for our needs and turn our backs to Jesus? If so, then we rebel against God and turn to the adversary; the devil. The Pharisees even accused Jesus of being the devil:
And so you like Ellen, Ann Landers, Opray Winfrey and Dr. Phil? What they present is "the course of the world" and three of the four are not even trained to boggle your mind! What fools we are! Gullible people are beguiled by consulting Baal-Zebub. If they are not teaching God's word and only God's word, you're being deceived. Instead of consulting God, you are consulting his adversary!
Yes, I know that I'm harsh on psychology, both professional and pop, but after all "Is psychology a science of entertainment?" From their television and newsprint counseling it would appear that even psychologists can't figure that out! When I finished my graduate work in counseling I was asked if I wanted to participate in group therapy with the class. My reply "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" They looked at me as if I was crazy, but scripture points toward their craziness and craziness attracts crazies to psychology!
Just as God can fix anything if we have the faith, he can fix in whom your confidence lies. For me and my household, we choose God's word! I seek God... Baal-Zebub doesn't fix anything. Don't let the devil get into you!
Baal-Zebub or Beelzebub was a Philistine (pagan) god which means "Lord of the Flies" or "the devil". For the scholar it's noted that one of the most literary books for required reading in high school is Lord of the Flies. In the book "the Beast" is the monster within the water and took on life because of a parachutist whose landing caused him to flounder in the water. The Beast represents the monster within us all.The "Lord of the Flies" was a decapitated pig who became an emblem of that which provokes the beast within us. Obviously, the book is an allegorical story about the battle between "good" and "evil". Evil is the result of the devil's work and is whatever is in opposition to God. It's sin. It's unrighteousness! Truly the devil is a monster and the Lord of the Flies is the evil spirit of Satan who tempts us!
King Ahaziah tampered with this Lord of the Flies; the Beast:
2 Kings 1:2 (NIV) "Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers, saying to them, “Go and consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, to see if I will recover from this injury.” 3 But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Go up and meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?’It appears for healing, rather than seeking God for restoration, the king turned to the devil. Rather than turning to prayer and faith in God for healing, the king sought to consult Beelzebub. He was consorting with the devil, believing there to be more power in the occult than in God.
The "angel of the Lord" in contrast to "an angel of the Lord", is "The Word" which was with us in Old Testament times. (Angel means messenger and the messenger speaks "the word", hence this Angel is The Word which became Jesus!) The Word was troubled. He asked a rhetorical question "Is it because I don't exist?" God, who was to become Emmanuel, was not respected and he was sorely disappointed, just as he is with us when we turn away from God to find answers elsewhere
We may not think about it, but if we seek and accept answers from a source in disagreement with God's Word, then it's turning to the same Beelzebub. "The devil got into me!" as Uncle Fred would say. None are immune from deception. We all fall victim to the lies and deceit of the devil and he puts just enough "good" into the evil advice to make it palatable, even to the non-discerning Christian.
When my son was in drug rehab I became enamored with the mystery of counseling. I believed that the psychologist had "secret knowledge" where he could bend the minds of the children and cure the addictions. I had the same faith as King Ahaziah! I consulted the writings of Beelzebub over God's word. I was so enthralled with this alternate "cure" that although I was and engineer, I commenced my graduate degree in psychology, turning to counseling later on.
For some reason, as I was earning my credentials in what I now call "psychobabble", I read my Bible cover to cover. Most of what I studied was at odds with God's word with just enough benign strategies and "right" taught to make it palatable. Since many Christians want to help people they are drawn to the psychology field. Their intentions are good, but they seek Beelzebub, as I did!
First off, according to their own words, (paraphrased) "No research has been done where anyone has improved more with therapy than without." That's an honest admission, but for some reason people still fall prey to the theory of psychology. (No, it's not truly a science, but a faith... a religion). In fact psychology means "study of the soul"! Did you know that? I didn't! I made a statement to my professor: "Psychology appears to be another religion!" She replied "Are you just now figuring that out?" and later she said "Our job is not to teach, but to remold!" Being a realist I understood "remold" to mean "brainwash"!
Do we turn to other things for our needs and turn our backs to Jesus? If so, then we rebel against God and turn to the adversary; the devil. The Pharisees even accused Jesus of being the devil:
Mark 3:22 (NIV) "And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, 'He (Jesus) is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons' .”Here we see that Beelzebul was the "Prince of Demons". Who would that be? I would say "The Prince of the Power of the Air"; Satan:
Ephesians 2:2 "...in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—"Things seemingly innocent are "following the course of the world" is following Satan, "the prince of the power of the air". He's Beelzebub. Psychology, for instance, is the course of this world and is at odds with God's word. For those who pick and choose what they believe in the Bible, those same people would be comfortable with "picking and choosing" with which psychology "tool" is pulled from the tool box. Pulling diverse and varying theories is called eclecticism. The patient becomes the guinea pig of the day with little, if no, accountable on the part of the counselor!
And so you like Ellen, Ann Landers, Opray Winfrey and Dr. Phil? What they present is "the course of the world" and three of the four are not even trained to boggle your mind! What fools we are! Gullible people are beguiled by consulting Baal-Zebub. If they are not teaching God's word and only God's word, you're being deceived. Instead of consulting God, you are consulting his adversary!
Yes, I know that I'm harsh on psychology, both professional and pop, but after all "Is psychology a science of entertainment?" From their television and newsprint counseling it would appear that even psychologists can't figure that out! When I finished my graduate work in counseling I was asked if I wanted to participate in group therapy with the class. My reply "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" They looked at me as if I was crazy, but scripture points toward their craziness and craziness attracts crazies to psychology!
Just as God can fix anything if we have the faith, he can fix in whom your confidence lies. For me and my household, we choose God's word! I seek God... Baal-Zebub doesn't fix anything. Don't let the devil get into you!
Politics: Dr. Tim Hulsey on Government Efficiency
I need some help! I am looking for any part of the US federal government that has been shown to be an example of efficiency, honesty, skilled management, frugality, lawfulness, respect for and appreciation of American taxpayers, recognition of their privileged status, and responsiveness to the American People.
When I “Google” this, my top hits is “Full text of ‘Are we capable of self-government…’ followed closely by “The Word List for North American Competitive Scrabble.”
I expected, “Oy! Are you meshuganah? (L. Herrin comment: "Woe is me!" Are you bizarre?")
This doesn’t bode well, but Google didn’t crash! It would be funny if it weren’t a tragedy.
When I “Google” this, my top hits is “Full text of ‘Are we capable of self-government…’ followed closely by “The Word List for North American Competitive Scrabble.”
I expected, “Oy! Are you meshuganah? (L. Herrin comment: "Woe is me!" Are you bizarre?")
This doesn’t bode well, but Google didn’t crash! It would be funny if it weren’t a tragedy.
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Politics: Dr. Tim Hulsey - IRS Probe Beating a Dead Horse or An Alive One?
IRS Commissioner John Koskinen, an Obama donor, told a House committee last month that Lois Lerner’s emails from 2009-2011 were lost due to her computer hard drive crashing. The hard drive was “recycled” (read destroyed), and the backup tapes were overwritten. In itself, this is a violation of federal records keeping law. Lerner’s emails were important to the House Oversight Committee’s ongoing investigation of the IRS.
Democrats rail against the continuing House investigation of how the IRS treats American taxpayers, calling it a witch hunt. No need, they say, to beat a dead horse.
Delay results from lack of cooperation of federal agencies in complying with requests, demands, and subpoenas of personnel and information to determine whether and how the most powerful, the most feared, and the most uniformly encountered federal agency has abused American citizens. Oversight could be rapid if agencies complied with the law instead of skirting or flouting it.
The persistence of the House committees continues to result in new revelations as information is finally obtained and access to key personnel occurs.
In a closed door meeting with the House Oversight Committee, subpoenaed IRS Deputy Associate Chief Counsel Thomas Kane admitted that the backup tapes may still exist.
Persistence pays off for American taxpayers. Perhaps there is still some life in that horse!
Some of the same Democrats decrying the prolonged investigation are the same ones who sent letters to the IRS demanding investigation of tax-exempt organizations, and they certainly weren’t talking about liberal groups!
Just think how many taxpayer dollars could be saved and taxpayer stress averted if the rest of the federal government remained nonpartisan and didn’t try to emulate Obama’s disregard for the law.
Democrats rail against the continuing House investigation of how the IRS treats American taxpayers, calling it a witch hunt. No need, they say, to beat a dead horse.
Delay results from lack of cooperation of federal agencies in complying with requests, demands, and subpoenas of personnel and information to determine whether and how the most powerful, the most feared, and the most uniformly encountered federal agency has abused American citizens. Oversight could be rapid if agencies complied with the law instead of skirting or flouting it.
The persistence of the House committees continues to result in new revelations as information is finally obtained and access to key personnel occurs.
In a closed door meeting with the House Oversight Committee, subpoenaed IRS Deputy Associate Chief Counsel Thomas Kane admitted that the backup tapes may still exist.
Persistence pays off for American taxpayers. Perhaps there is still some life in that horse!
Some of the same Democrats decrying the prolonged investigation are the same ones who sent letters to the IRS demanding investigation of tax-exempt organizations, and they certainly weren’t talking about liberal groups!
Just think how many taxpayer dollars could be saved and taxpayer stress averted if the rest of the federal government remained nonpartisan and didn’t try to emulate Obama’s disregard for the law.
Demons
So you want a snack do you? An angel "you" with halo appears on one shoulder all of us dressed in sparkling white and a bad "you" appears on the other shoulder. You have to make a decision. Shall you eat the treat or shall you show will-power and move on? The typical person will respond with eating the treat and worry about the consequences of the decision at a later. time.
This scenario is partially true, but mostly false. We each are assisted in our daily living by angels!
Hence, angels are real. They are messengers of God, but do demons exist?
Fallen angels are demons. Yes, they too exist:
So far the caricature first described is partially true! Good and bad angels do exist, but they're not on your shoulder and the bad angels are not friendly advisers. They are liars whereas the "good" angel is there to tell you of truth; God's truth. Demons oppress men:
In the original caricature the person has to decide whose advice is taken. For most people, the choice is clear. They choose "pleasure" because that's the wide gate. Satan is in charge of pleasure and he runs a luxurious palace. However, that pleasure is fleeting, providing fun, but not joy! Yes, pleasure is fun. Any sinner should admit that they do things to pleasure the "Self". That's the whole intent. If you're having fun in pleasure, chances are most people are neglecting Jesus. Satan gets satisfaction not only of your sins of commission, but those of omission as well. Satan wins even if you believe in Jesus, but fail to serve him. By doing that the sinner is obeying Satan.
Most people choose pleasure over righteousness without thought. However, some need to be deceived because they intend to do "good". Often Christians are the ones who need this method:
One time several years ago I selected the topic of Satan as the subject of my Sunday School Lesson. I was to teach young adults about him and his lies. The night before, while lying in bed, a voice came to my mind. It wasn't audible, but a profound thought with pronounced clarity. The inner voice said "Larry, if you teach about me you'd better be without spot or wrinkle!" I never use the third person when I speak to myself! This was not my thought. It was a thought from a dark place, but I "heard" it and was frightened to high anxiety. I was indeed afraid because a demon had spoke directly to me! It was no longer a belief, but a reality.
I couldn't rid myself of the evil presence so I turned to God. I sang hymns and prayed until my anxiety subsided. However, it made such a profound influence on me, that at 4:00 a.m. I got out of bed, singing my hymns, and wrote it all down. I never wanted to forget the realness of my encounter with a demon. After all these years I still have that treatise. I never want to forget it!
I did teach about Satan who followed through with his threat. I was tempted on every front and failed God in many areas. It was temptations and sins which I never dreamed of and some were sins of pleasure. I fell prey to the bait and disappointed Christ. However, I never forgot my salvation, and remained confident in my faith and eventually through prayer and scripture reading, the demon moved on! I thank God for his not giving me more than I can handle!
I had a friend of a friend who said that he was possessed. A fellow Christian and I went to pray with him and he indeed was possessed. He believed in Jesus, even prayed with us, but the demon didn't leave. My friend and I gave up! We left because we didn't know this:
People are possessed sometimes by multiple demons. When the demons in possession of the man uttered words from the demons within, they said:
I found out that Mary, according to her own testimony, had grown up in a Satanist household and had been the virgin sacrifice. This happened in Warren County, Kentucky. The "Ghostbuster" sergeant of the local police department told me that there were four covens in Warren County. He said that if he wasn't a Christian, he would be powerless with them!
The preacher and the women had prayer and prayed out a demon. I said "good", but you're not through.She has Legions! The last I saw of Mary she still was plagued with demons. Her father and relatives found her later in Bowling Green, shaved her head and broke her knee backwards. This is typical cult activity! Mary had legions and all of us should still pray and fast for her for they are powerful and are many!
Never minimize demons. They like that! If they deceive you into believing that they don't exist you're vulnerable. I have several more testimonies about demons, but you get the point. There is a supernatural world out there and those cute little angles on our shoulders are only a fiction of what's real. We all make decisions each day. We take their advise. Some of us listen and are discerning. Others fall for the lie! Don't fall for the lie, empower yourself with God's Word. That's your armor and with the help of the Holy Spirit you can finish the race!
This scenario is partially true, but mostly false. We each are assisted in our daily living by angels!
Hebrews 1:14 (ESV) "Are they not all ministering spirits (angels) sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?"Angels are sent out by God to protect us from ourselves! One of their jobs is to keep us safe until we're saved. They help us to discern right from wrong. Hence, many have an "angel on their shoulder" so to speak, but they may appear in human form:
Hebrews 13:12 (ESV) "Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."
Hence, angels are real. They are messengers of God, but do demons exist?
Fallen angels are demons. Yes, they too exist:
2 Peter 2:4 (ESV) "For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment..."Somehow those dark angels who rebelled are allowed to travel between their darkness and us with relative freedom. They are there to frustrate the sacrifice made by Jesus by foiling the life of humans through deceit:
Ephesians 6:12 (ESV) "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.""Heavenly places" in this context is not Paradise, but the cosmos. Dark angels, or demons as they are called" are there to do opposing things than that of God's angels. If God's angels "lead" you to not sin, the devil's angels will lead you to sin. Your sinning undermines Jesus. That's their job description: Senior Liar and Deceiver for Satan, Incorporated.
So far the caricature first described is partially true! Good and bad angels do exist, but they're not on your shoulder and the bad angels are not friendly advisers. They are liars whereas the "good" angel is there to tell you of truth; God's truth. Demons oppress men:
Matthew 8:16 "That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick."Men become slaves to demons and hence to their ruler, the "Prince of the Air", Satan who is the present ruler of the earth. If you don't like your government leader, unless he's a born-again-Christian, he's a follower of Satan. Those leaders are "Antichrists". They do the bidding of fallen angels who carry the message of darkness.
In the original caricature the person has to decide whose advice is taken. For most people, the choice is clear. They choose "pleasure" because that's the wide gate. Satan is in charge of pleasure and he runs a luxurious palace. However, that pleasure is fleeting, providing fun, but not joy! Yes, pleasure is fun. Any sinner should admit that they do things to pleasure the "Self". That's the whole intent. If you're having fun in pleasure, chances are most people are neglecting Jesus. Satan gets satisfaction not only of your sins of commission, but those of omission as well. Satan wins even if you believe in Jesus, but fail to serve him. By doing that the sinner is obeying Satan.
Most people choose pleasure over righteousness without thought. However, some need to be deceived because they intend to do "good". Often Christians are the ones who need this method:
2 Corinthians 11:14 (ESV) "And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light."The caricature now takes on a different look! Instead of a bad angel and a good angel, the person has two angels who look the same. Both appear to be good, but one is wearing a disguise. They both offer advice, but one uses truth and the other uses trickery. The deceiving angel will talk a good story. He will tell you all the things you want to hear to allow you to make the choice of wrong. He uses "reason" to persuade; hence their is a close relationship between "reason" and "pleasure", both fruits of the "Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil". Just as the serpent beguiled Eve with smooth words and lies to foil her faculties, demons use the same technique on us because we too are children of the "bad tree". Although many of us have eaten of the "Tree of Life", Jesus, we still get deceived by Satan's demons all the time. Just ask Job how that works. However, Job was truly righteous. We must be too!
One time several years ago I selected the topic of Satan as the subject of my Sunday School Lesson. I was to teach young adults about him and his lies. The night before, while lying in bed, a voice came to my mind. It wasn't audible, but a profound thought with pronounced clarity. The inner voice said "Larry, if you teach about me you'd better be without spot or wrinkle!" I never use the third person when I speak to myself! This was not my thought. It was a thought from a dark place, but I "heard" it and was frightened to high anxiety. I was indeed afraid because a demon had spoke directly to me! It was no longer a belief, but a reality.
I couldn't rid myself of the evil presence so I turned to God. I sang hymns and prayed until my anxiety subsided. However, it made such a profound influence on me, that at 4:00 a.m. I got out of bed, singing my hymns, and wrote it all down. I never wanted to forget the realness of my encounter with a demon. After all these years I still have that treatise. I never want to forget it!
I did teach about Satan who followed through with his threat. I was tempted on every front and failed God in many areas. It was temptations and sins which I never dreamed of and some were sins of pleasure. I fell prey to the bait and disappointed Christ. However, I never forgot my salvation, and remained confident in my faith and eventually through prayer and scripture reading, the demon moved on! I thank God for his not giving me more than I can handle!
I had a friend of a friend who said that he was possessed. A fellow Christian and I went to pray with him and he indeed was possessed. He believed in Jesus, even prayed with us, but the demon didn't leave. My friend and I gave up! We left because we didn't know this:
Mark 9:19, 23, 26, 28, and 29: "He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me....Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth....And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him...And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting."There are different types of demons, some more powerful than others. We must fight demons that even the apostles couldn't defeat. It took both prayer and fasting! It's not just a ritual of asking God, but because we are of so little faith, to increase our faith we must deprive our self of pleasure. Fasting means that we not only do without food as we pray, but pleasure of any kind! Pleasure is the fruit of the "bad tree' and some demons are so powerful that we must not partake of any fruit of that tree!
People are possessed sometimes by multiple demons. When the demons in possession of the man uttered words from the demons within, they said:
Mark 5:9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.”If we examine behavior and thoughts of those with schizophrenia and multiple personality disorder, I can't keep from thinking that a demon is at work in the former and legions in the latter. A girl (let's call her Mary) went to my church. She exhibited multiple personalities and was diagnosed as such. I remarked to the pastor, "She doesn't have multiple personalities. She's possessed by demons!" The preacher laughed! However, months later I found out that the preacher and women in the congregation were reading books by Christian counselors about demon-possession. When I asked "What for?", I found out that it was for Mary!
I found out that Mary, according to her own testimony, had grown up in a Satanist household and had been the virgin sacrifice. This happened in Warren County, Kentucky. The "Ghostbuster" sergeant of the local police department told me that there were four covens in Warren County. He said that if he wasn't a Christian, he would be powerless with them!
The preacher and the women had prayer and prayed out a demon. I said "good", but you're not through.She has Legions! The last I saw of Mary she still was plagued with demons. Her father and relatives found her later in Bowling Green, shaved her head and broke her knee backwards. This is typical cult activity! Mary had legions and all of us should still pray and fast for her for they are powerful and are many!
Never minimize demons. They like that! If they deceive you into believing that they don't exist you're vulnerable. I have several more testimonies about demons, but you get the point. There is a supernatural world out there and those cute little angles on our shoulders are only a fiction of what's real. We all make decisions each day. We take their advise. Some of us listen and are discerning. Others fall for the lie! Don't fall for the lie, empower yourself with God's Word. That's your armor and with the help of the Holy Spirit you can finish the race!
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
First do God's Will then Prosperity will follow
God promised Joshua the same inheritance which he made to Moses and which was originally promised to Abraham. In short that promise said "Do my will and you will succeed. Cross me and you shall be destroyed". Not that God would destroy the nation, but they would die as a consequence of their own folly!
Joshua 1:8 (ESV) This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”The Pentateuch, the Law, or what we know as the first five books of the Old Testament in the Bible, is what we are to consider, believe, confess and do. If the Israelites adhere to what God specified, then He will make their nation prosper. With that promise they were not to fear, but to trust God to follow through with what he promised. The Israelites were promised (Joshua 1:3-4) that land which will extend from the Mediterranean Sea to the Euphrates River and from the deserts of Arabia to the bounds of Turkey. King David's empire, as promised, reached that extent. God followed through with his promise!
That Kingdom encompassed Jordan, Syria and half of Iraq. I believe that if the kings of Judah and Israel had obeyed the will of God that they would still have this land. However, they didn't and they don't have! Not only did the disobedient kings lose Israel first and Judah lastly, they have yet to regain it all! In fact from the Babylonian capture of Jerusalem to the foundation of Israel in 1948, the Jews were without a homeland. Now they have one and they fight for it every day they exist.
One of two things will happen: Israel will obey God and retain their homeland or they will rebel and lose morel! Although Israel has yet to accept Christ, 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes eventually will. Since scripture speaks of them becoming a nation again, it appears that God's will is for them to look toward Him. Amos prophesied so:
Amos 9:14 (ESV) "I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant them on their land, and they shall never again be uprooted out of the land that I have given them,” says the Lord your God."
With that said Israel will be. With this promise from God they will always be a nation. However, God's will is that they follow him and they will; not by accepting Christ this instant, but because they look forward to the coming of a Messiah. No. 12 of the 13 "Principles of Faith" of the Jews is "The Messiah will come.". He has, they missed that, but they will recognize him at his second coming. As Christians, both living and the dead, meet Jesus in the sky, many Jews will come to believe in the Messiah and that he has come. (better late than never).
Israel has a bare minimum. Their land is about the size of Delaware, although it at one time had the bounds shown in the map above. They're doing well with what they have, but prosperity seems to have eluded them. Although the nation is fairly wealthy, prosperity means more than wealth. They have not peace and never will; at least until Jesus comes!
Regarding the end of time Daniel saw a vision:
Daniel 7:2 (ESV) "Daniel declared, 'I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. 4 The first was like a lion and had eagles' wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it.' "
Many theologians believe that this vision represents Great Britain (the lion symbol) and the United States (the eagle symbol). Hence, the west is very much a part of biblical prophecy! What applied to Israel applies to us. It would appear that the same "deal" that was made with God's people in the mid-east applies to us in the western world; America included. Joshua 1:8-9 applies to us as well! If we follow God's will, we will prosper. If we fail to obey him as a nation, we will be destroyed!
Left-wing politicos have separated politics into two branches: social and economic. These aspects are not and can never be mutually exclusive, but are mutually dependent on each other! A candidate cannot be a economic conservative and a social liberal. Social programs cost money. That means higher taxes. Higher taxes means economic liberalism. Hence, social liberals are economic liberals. Those who campaign as one or the other and not both are liars (or just plain ignorant of reality)!
RINO's (Republicans In Name only) are of that mindset. That's why the U.S. is in trouble. They are the first to compromise on conservative values. Why should God bless a nation which sacrifices their children (unborn babies) to Molech? Why should God make a nation prosper which legalizes same sex marriage? Why should God care about a hedonistic nation who turns to him only in times of peril, if that?
America has prospered when God led our leaders and America will prosper again when our leaders lean on Jesus with knees bent. Pundits who say that we should put social issues aside and concentrate on economic issues are demagogues. God tells us to do his will first and then we will prosper! His will is that we honor the sanctity of life, that we honor traditional marriage and that we obey his moral and spiritual precepts. If we do that, then we will surely prosper because that is God's formula for success!
America must support a single-state nation of Israel. A two-state compromise is not God's will because God tells Joshua to never have a treaty with the pagans who live there. If we support a two-state compromise, as always, compromise leads to deterioration, and in this case, sure destruction!
Mr. President, lead us from the perspective of what God wills. That will be a legacy of prosperity. Lead us from any other direction and we will be punished. That is God and state walking hand-in-hand with God leading the way!
Political: On Privacy - Dr. Tim Hulsey
Obama Press Secretary Josh Earnest justifies transferring illegal aliens to locations around the country without prior notification because “the children's privacy has to be protected under the law.”
The first question is, when did the Obama Administration become constrained by law. When the law doesn’t fit his goals, he simply ignores it.
Secondly, what is the truthful answer to that question? He wants to avoid any state or local officials having a chance to publicly call him out on the policy and to avert local adverse reaction when the immigrants arrive at their destination.
Obama doesn't give a whit for the privacy of your tax record which his IRS agents illegally share with other federal agencies. He abhors and ignores the privacy your political organization has regarding your donors.
The privacy of your individual medical records is mandated by law, however, he has seen that all those records have to be stored digitally, privacy of which Edward Snowden will tell you is impossible.
Why the difference? Your rights tend to be obstacles to his progressive ideology where the state has a right to everything. The rights of illegal immigrant children, however, fit his open borders policy perfectly. It is social gerrymandering.
Once again, Obama’s actions aren't for the benefit of US citizens whom he confronts more often than not. Promoting his own unconstitutional agenda trumps us every time!
The first question is, when did the Obama Administration become constrained by law. When the law doesn’t fit his goals, he simply ignores it.
Secondly, what is the truthful answer to that question? He wants to avoid any state or local officials having a chance to publicly call him out on the policy and to avert local adverse reaction when the immigrants arrive at their destination.
Obama doesn't give a whit for the privacy of your tax record which his IRS agents illegally share with other federal agencies. He abhors and ignores the privacy your political organization has regarding your donors.
The privacy of your individual medical records is mandated by law, however, he has seen that all those records have to be stored digitally, privacy of which Edward Snowden will tell you is impossible.
Why the difference? Your rights tend to be obstacles to his progressive ideology where the state has a right to everything. The rights of illegal immigrant children, however, fit his open borders policy perfectly. It is social gerrymandering.
Once again, Obama’s actions aren't for the benefit of US citizens whom he confronts more often than not. Promoting his own unconstitutional agenda trumps us every time!
Monday, July 21, 2014
Political: A Trillion a Year - Dr. Tim Hulsey
It hurts increasingly to see our federal government costing a trillion dollars
of taxpayer money each year while agency after agency is found to be performing
their jobs poorly or illegally, yet asking for more money and personnel, paying
undeserved performance bonuses, abusing travel benefits and credit cards,
holding expensive ineffective conferences, and enjoying better retirement
benefits than most of us.
It turns out that it is virtually impossible to fire these government employees
because of their unions and Civil Service rules, even in the face of atrocious
dereliction of duty.
All this is egregious enough, but many are also waging war on the American
People. The IRS, Department of the Interior, the FBI, the Department of Justice
and their BATFE, among others. Perhaps this is the reason for so much
militarization even in agencies not dealing with criminals.
These same agents can lie to you with impunity, but if you lie to them, you're a
felon!
Now, the Centers for Disease Control has "unexpectedly" been found to have an
epidemic of apathy related to the security of specimens of deadly diseases.
Several instances of security lapses have been reported recently. These microbes
are some of the most deadly substances in existence, including anthrax and
Ebola.
These biological agents can be deadly by accident, but, if obtained by someone
with nefarious motives, could have more widespread devastating effects.
Anyone with common sense would stop paying for services from a dishonest, inept,
irresponsible, abusive, wasteful provider. Sadly, we can't fire the federal
government. We can't even force it to immediately stop wasting our tax dollars.
The partisanship of the career bureaucracy seems so entrenched that it may be
impossible to neutralize. They will feel emboldened for two more years, at
least.
Cutting off funding may be our only recourse.
of taxpayer money each year while agency after agency is found to be performing
their jobs poorly or illegally, yet asking for more money and personnel, paying
undeserved performance bonuses, abusing travel benefits and credit cards,
holding expensive ineffective conferences, and enjoying better retirement
benefits than most of us.
It turns out that it is virtually impossible to fire these government employees
because of their unions and Civil Service rules, even in the face of atrocious
dereliction of duty.
All this is egregious enough, but many are also waging war on the American
People. The IRS, Department of the Interior, the FBI, the Department of Justice
and their BATFE, among others. Perhaps this is the reason for so much
militarization even in agencies not dealing with criminals.
These same agents can lie to you with impunity, but if you lie to them, you're a
felon!
Now, the Centers for Disease Control has "unexpectedly" been found to have an
epidemic of apathy related to the security of specimens of deadly diseases.
Several instances of security lapses have been reported recently. These microbes
are some of the most deadly substances in existence, including anthrax and
Ebola.
These biological agents can be deadly by accident, but, if obtained by someone
with nefarious motives, could have more widespread devastating effects.
Anyone with common sense would stop paying for services from a dishonest, inept,
irresponsible, abusive, wasteful provider. Sadly, we can't fire the federal
government. We can't even force it to immediately stop wasting our tax dollars.
The partisanship of the career bureaucracy seems so entrenched that it may be
impossible to neutralize. They will feel emboldened for two more years, at
least.
Cutting off funding may be our only recourse.
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Early American Christian Abuses
There were many faithful people who settled America. Why did folks living in Europe come to an uncharted world? There were two reasons: 1) America, called Virginia, at that time was a business venture and 2) for religious freedom and to fulfill The Great Commission for the propagation of the Gospel. Both were noble and reasonable reasons, but note that there were two. The latter is so often overlooked, especially by the judicial system.
In fulfilling the two just causes adventurers had to interact with the aboriginal people, incorrectly named "Indians" because of limited geographical knowledge at that time. Hence, today we have a part of our American population who are incorrectly called "Indians", but are a rich part of our heritage and should be correctly called "Earliest Americans" or "American Aboriginals".
John Smith wrote extensively of the founding of Jamestown, even mapping out fairly accurately most of the east coast of North America. Although some areas are "laughable" such as the shape of Florida, it actually was a very good job of portraying this continent so early. Smith also wrote of the dealings between the adventurers and Indians. Sometimes there was a fair relationship and at others war. Seldom was there an exceptional friendship between those with white faces and those to whom the land belonged.
Life itself depended upon trade with the Indians. The adventurers were for the most part, not tillers of the soil nor hunters of game as the Indians were. Many were either tradesmen or noblemen without skills suitable for living in the wilderness. At times the crops of the Indians were even poor. Smith and his band of adventurers would then travel inland and "take" corn from the Indians, having little left to trade or buy. Although the Indians too had their own flaws, after all, it was their land being encroached upon by strangers in tall ships. Fear made them anxious and rightfully protective of what they had.
The Virginia Company was a capitalistic endeavor to make money through the search for gold, but ending in the selling of pelts to the gentry of England and the Continent. Looking in desperation to survive, the white man abused his fellow man. It was man's instinct to survive which made him unreasonable. Most of us need to thank John Smith and the others for persevering so that America, once a dream for riches, are now riches fulfilled. Even with the abuse of the Indians, the settlement of America is still God's will. He uses a crooked stick when necessary to do his will. (That statement is attributed to Martin Luther who said " “God can draw a straight line with a crooked stick." ) Using capitalism as a tool the gospel of Jesus came alive upon the shores of an unexplored land.
Let's give credit where credit is due! The land was not "unknown". It was only unknown to those who didn't know it. The Indians knew America quite well. They just wanted to keep their little secret from civilization because they were happy with what they knew. While the adventurers came to know the land, the land came to know about God!
One of the first tribes converted to Christianity, if not the first, was the Wampanoag people of what's now around Martha's Vineyard. Bibles were published in their own language and the people readily became converts. However, the white man eventually destroyed the domicile Indian culture that Christianity had created through war. Christians abused Christians.
Indians had customs deemed "savage" to the civilized world. The arriving people stirred up the savage within the Indian and thus, the Indians responded with savagery! A circle of violence was in the making because "worlds collide". (This is an expression which I created to explain why marriages fail and friends argue.) The colliding worlds are still in collision. This Christian nation hasn't always been a good example, but for the most part, the Indian has ended up on the short end of the stick. However, that crooked stick has yielded positive results!
The Indian is an example! They are a majority Christian nation within a nation that was at one time Christian. Perhaps they will maintain the faith of their fathers, and not go the way of pleasure, as are Americans in general. Perhaps God will have an abused people rise up and protect his investment! The white man came here that souls of red men might be saved. Perhaps the Indian can now call on God to save the race which abused theirs!
In fulfilling the two just causes adventurers had to interact with the aboriginal people, incorrectly named "Indians" because of limited geographical knowledge at that time. Hence, today we have a part of our American population who are incorrectly called "Indians", but are a rich part of our heritage and should be correctly called "Earliest Americans" or "American Aboriginals".
John Smith wrote extensively of the founding of Jamestown, even mapping out fairly accurately most of the east coast of North America. Although some areas are "laughable" such as the shape of Florida, it actually was a very good job of portraying this continent so early. Smith also wrote of the dealings between the adventurers and Indians. Sometimes there was a fair relationship and at others war. Seldom was there an exceptional friendship between those with white faces and those to whom the land belonged.
Life itself depended upon trade with the Indians. The adventurers were for the most part, not tillers of the soil nor hunters of game as the Indians were. Many were either tradesmen or noblemen without skills suitable for living in the wilderness. At times the crops of the Indians were even poor. Smith and his band of adventurers would then travel inland and "take" corn from the Indians, having little left to trade or buy. Although the Indians too had their own flaws, after all, it was their land being encroached upon by strangers in tall ships. Fear made them anxious and rightfully protective of what they had.
The Virginia Company was a capitalistic endeavor to make money through the search for gold, but ending in the selling of pelts to the gentry of England and the Continent. Looking in desperation to survive, the white man abused his fellow man. It was man's instinct to survive which made him unreasonable. Most of us need to thank John Smith and the others for persevering so that America, once a dream for riches, are now riches fulfilled. Even with the abuse of the Indians, the settlement of America is still God's will. He uses a crooked stick when necessary to do his will. (That statement is attributed to Martin Luther who said " “God can draw a straight line with a crooked stick." ) Using capitalism as a tool the gospel of Jesus came alive upon the shores of an unexplored land.
Let's give credit where credit is due! The land was not "unknown". It was only unknown to those who didn't know it. The Indians knew America quite well. They just wanted to keep their little secret from civilization because they were happy with what they knew. While the adventurers came to know the land, the land came to know about God!
Matthew 28:18 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."The adventurers did just that! They taught the Indians about Christ and his love, but also introduced them to "bottled hell"; firewater. Not knowing that American Indians have a propensity genetically for alcoholism, alcohol was used to purchase vast areas of land for a pittance. The Indians had little idea what the private concept of land ownership was and fell victim to that which they had little knowledge. Christians abused those whose souls they were trying to save!
One of the first tribes converted to Christianity, if not the first, was the Wampanoag people of what's now around Martha's Vineyard. Bibles were published in their own language and the people readily became converts. However, the white man eventually destroyed the domicile Indian culture that Christianity had created through war. Christians abused Christians.
Indians had customs deemed "savage" to the civilized world. The arriving people stirred up the savage within the Indian and thus, the Indians responded with savagery! A circle of violence was in the making because "worlds collide". (This is an expression which I created to explain why marriages fail and friends argue.) The colliding worlds are still in collision. This Christian nation hasn't always been a good example, but for the most part, the Indian has ended up on the short end of the stick. However, that crooked stick has yielded positive results!
Luke 15:10 "Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents."It is reported that most North American Indians are Christians now and most of those are protestants. Considering that there are around 3,000,000 Indians in American, thousands of angels have sung at their conversion! It's obvious that God draws a straight line with a crooked stick. Millions have eternal life because of the persecution of some.
Matthew 5:10 "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."The Indian has been persecuted not only in leading them to Christ, but in taking what they have for nefarious reasons, usually greed. Matthew is speaking of the former, but like the Wampanoags, although they were Christians, they were still persecuted.
The Indian is an example! They are a majority Christian nation within a nation that was at one time Christian. Perhaps they will maintain the faith of their fathers, and not go the way of pleasure, as are Americans in general. Perhaps God will have an abused people rise up and protect his investment! The white man came here that souls of red men might be saved. Perhaps the Indian can now call on God to save the race which abused theirs!
Politics: Quest for Good Government - Dr. Tim Hulsey
Letter #7-July 20, 2014
It hurts increasingly to see our federal government costing a trillion dollars
of taxpayer money each year while agency after agency is found to be performing
their jobs poorly or illegally, yet asking for more money and personnel, paying
undeserved performance bonuses, abusing travel benefits and credit cards,
holding expensive ineffective conferences, and enjoying better retirement
benefits than most of us.
It turns out that it is virtually impossible to fire these government employees
because of their unions and Civil Service rules, even in the face of atrocious
dereliction of duty.
All this is egregious enough, but many are also waging war on the American
People. The IRS, Department of the Interior, the FBI, the Department of Justice
and their BATFE, among others. Perhaps this is the reason for so much
militarization even in agencies not dealing with criminals.
These same agents can lie to you with impunity, but if you lie to them, you're a
felon!
Now, the Centers for Disease Control has "unexpectedly" been found to have an
epidemic of apathy related to the security of specimens of deadly diseases.
Several instances of security lapses have been reported recently. These microbes
are some of the most deadly substances in existence, including anthrax and
Ebola.
These biological agents can be deadly by accident, but, if obtained by someone
with nefarious motives, could have more widespread devastating effects.
Anyone with common sense would stop paying for services from a dishonest, inept,
irresponsible, abusive, wasteful provider. Sadly, we can't fire the federal
government. We can't even force it to immediately stop wasting our tax dollars.
The partisanship of the career bureaucracy seems so entrenched that it may be
impossible to neutralize. They will feel emboldened for two more years, at
least.
Cutting off funding may be our only recourse.
It hurts increasingly to see our federal government costing a trillion dollars
of taxpayer money each year while agency after agency is found to be performing
their jobs poorly or illegally, yet asking for more money and personnel, paying
undeserved performance bonuses, abusing travel benefits and credit cards,
holding expensive ineffective conferences, and enjoying better retirement
benefits than most of us.
It turns out that it is virtually impossible to fire these government employees
because of their unions and Civil Service rules, even in the face of atrocious
dereliction of duty.
All this is egregious enough, but many are also waging war on the American
People. The IRS, Department of the Interior, the FBI, the Department of Justice
and their BATFE, among others. Perhaps this is the reason for so much
militarization even in agencies not dealing with criminals.
These same agents can lie to you with impunity, but if you lie to them, you're a
felon!
Now, the Centers for Disease Control has "unexpectedly" been found to have an
epidemic of apathy related to the security of specimens of deadly diseases.
Several instances of security lapses have been reported recently. These microbes
are some of the most deadly substances in existence, including anthrax and
Ebola.
These biological agents can be deadly by accident, but, if obtained by someone
with nefarious motives, could have more widespread devastating effects.
Anyone with common sense would stop paying for services from a dishonest, inept,
irresponsible, abusive, wasteful provider. Sadly, we can't fire the federal
government. We can't even force it to immediately stop wasting our tax dollars.
The partisanship of the career bureaucracy seems so entrenched that it may be
impossible to neutralize. They will feel emboldened for two more years, at
least.
Cutting off funding may be our only recourse.
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Emancipation
My great-grandfather was legally issued a "Deed of Emancipation" from the Pulaski County Circuit Court. He had not been enslaved, but was under the watch-care of his parents. He had demonstrated that even though he was a minor he was mature beyond his years and could transact his business without the assistance and protection of his parents. He was emancipated by his father and did quite well in life. However, he was still under the watch of the legal system which granted the deed.
The Emancipation Proclamation is alleged to have freed the slaves. However, since it applied to only another independent nation and exempted slaves on U.S. Territory and under military watch, it actually didn't free one slave. It's intent was not to free anyone, but to influence England to remain neutral in the War and not to recognize the Confederacy because of the slavery issue. It didn't do what it said it did, but it had a great influence on the outcome of the war. No one was truly "freed".
The question here "In either case was anyone really emancipated?" Does a document freedom make? Emancipation is not a a privilege to be documented, but a condition of the soul!
It goes more deeply than drugs although drugs are one of the foremost pleasures today. One I know at fifteen years of age lost his desire for everything, but marijuana. With his friend, Mary Jane, he didn't have a real need for a girlfriend. Most fifteen year-old boys are brain-dead with lust, but with marijuana, that emotion was stifled. He was a slave to marijuana.
For others the Master is other things. Possessions may be the master. "Getting ones way" masters people. Bad attitudes arise because some believe that "I deserve" (you fill in the blank). Some are slaves to self. They have the Self on a pedestal and bow before their God. What do you want me to do Master Self? Of course the Master says "satisfy me!" Those who worship Self teach their children the same and then wonder why their children are selfish! Parents are models for their children and with each generation the worship of the Self is propagated. That same marijuana user also worships the Self because they too are living for pleasure!
Others worship Self in a different manner. The nature of sin is two-fold. Pleasure is one, but reason is the other. However, there's a tight bond between pleasure and reason. One can't exist without the other! Satan uses reason so that the person can question why pleasure is forbidden. Sinners rationalize their sin by minimizing it. On the other hand those whose focus is on reason get pleasure in their false knowledge. You can tell who does by the flowery vocabulary and ability to deduce their own truths. Those who are wise in their own yes are the ultimate pleasure seekers and worshipers of Self.
No back to "we were bought with a price". What price was that?
"Wait a minute!" you say. "I thought I was free." With salvation you are emancipated from sin, but yet still have the freedom to sin. God doesn't force anyone to obey. It's still a choice. That's true emancipation.God doesn't use the law against you. He uses it for you. The only commandment that a freed person has is to "love". (That's a righteous love and isn't meant to imply otherwise.) You become a servant again, but a willing servant if you're truly saved. God doesn't force you to love him, but that's his Spirit aiding you. Christians are no longer bound by the Law for just as they were slaves to sin, they were also servants to the Law. Rather than loving God for his grace they feared him because if they miscued even once they were in danger. Grace freed sinners from the bondage of the Law. Christians not only become emancipated from Satan, but emancipated from themselves. They no longer have to work hard to be righteous because the blood (grace) did it all!
Once emancipated there is freedom:
Contrast true emancipation bought with a price to the false emancipation of my antecedent, to the Emancipation Proclamation and to the 1964 Civil Rights Act. All three civil attempts at freedom were attempts to dictate love through laws. God emancipated us, not through the Law, but from the Law! That's why Martin King had only "A Dream". That dream can only come true when people turn their lives over to Jesus. They are to serve a new Master. "Oops!" you say, "I believe in God, but sin still has dominion over me."
The Emancipation Proclamation is alleged to have freed the slaves. However, since it applied to only another independent nation and exempted slaves on U.S. Territory and under military watch, it actually didn't free one slave. It's intent was not to free anyone, but to influence England to remain neutral in the War and not to recognize the Confederacy because of the slavery issue. It didn't do what it said it did, but it had a great influence on the outcome of the war. No one was truly "freed".
The question here "In either case was anyone really emancipated?" Does a document freedom make? Emancipation is not a a privilege to be documented, but a condition of the soul!
"Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!" (Martin King)What freedom did King seek? Freedom from hate, to dream, brotherhood, end of oppression, that the glory of the Lord be revealed and that everyone shall have hope. That's a good dream, but the Civil Rights Act of 1964 didn't fulfill that dream! Those are good dreams, but King forgot one thing: Love can't be legislated. It's a condition of the heart. Government can never emancipate. Only God can!
1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.Before salvation we're all slaves. We do not what we wish to do, but do what our corrupt bodies tell us to do. Our minds are deceived all the time and we listen to the deceiver because what he promises is pleasurable. What's your pleasure?
It goes more deeply than drugs although drugs are one of the foremost pleasures today. One I know at fifteen years of age lost his desire for everything, but marijuana. With his friend, Mary Jane, he didn't have a real need for a girlfriend. Most fifteen year-old boys are brain-dead with lust, but with marijuana, that emotion was stifled. He was a slave to marijuana.
For others the Master is other things. Possessions may be the master. "Getting ones way" masters people. Bad attitudes arise because some believe that "I deserve" (you fill in the blank). Some are slaves to self. They have the Self on a pedestal and bow before their God. What do you want me to do Master Self? Of course the Master says "satisfy me!" Those who worship Self teach their children the same and then wonder why their children are selfish! Parents are models for their children and with each generation the worship of the Self is propagated. That same marijuana user also worships the Self because they too are living for pleasure!
Others worship Self in a different manner. The nature of sin is two-fold. Pleasure is one, but reason is the other. However, there's a tight bond between pleasure and reason. One can't exist without the other! Satan uses reason so that the person can question why pleasure is forbidden. Sinners rationalize their sin by minimizing it. On the other hand those whose focus is on reason get pleasure in their false knowledge. You can tell who does by the flowery vocabulary and ability to deduce their own truths. Those who are wise in their own yes are the ultimate pleasure seekers and worshipers of Self.
No back to "we were bought with a price". What price was that?
Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.Here's where you have to hide your eyes from the Slave Master for a minute or two. It's time to empathize and use your God-given sense of guilt! Jesus shed his blood that you might have eternal life. Your sins were paid for by the blood of God. His blood emancipated you from slavery! No longer are you slaves to pleasure and reason, but you're a "new person" and that person is free! "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, YOU are free at last!" That emancipation from your former Master means that you're to worship a new Master: "...therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (from 1 Cor 6:20). It's not a document, but a state of the heart!
"Wait a minute!" you say. "I thought I was free." With salvation you are emancipated from sin, but yet still have the freedom to sin. God doesn't force anyone to obey. It's still a choice. That's true emancipation.God doesn't use the law against you. He uses it for you. The only commandment that a freed person has is to "love". (That's a righteous love and isn't meant to imply otherwise.) You become a servant again, but a willing servant if you're truly saved. God doesn't force you to love him, but that's his Spirit aiding you. Christians are no longer bound by the Law for just as they were slaves to sin, they were also servants to the Law. Rather than loving God for his grace they feared him because if they miscued even once they were in danger. Grace freed sinners from the bondage of the Law. Christians not only become emancipated from Satan, but emancipated from themselves. They no longer have to work hard to be righteous because the blood (grace) did it all!
Once emancipated there is freedom:
Galatians 5:1 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."Blood made us free. Salvation is a gift of God and is freedom bought. As free men we no longer have to sin. With our new nature we mature as Christians and what we did before becomes anathema. Pleasure we once lived for, we now disdain. Yes, we still have thorns in our side. Satan still deceives. However, with repentance, God's mercy is still there! We are at liberty to sin, but because we love God, our desire should be to please him. Freedom is achieved with one condition: We are to glorify God with our body. That means we're to walk with God in faith. Without faith there is no emancipation.
Contrast true emancipation bought with a price to the false emancipation of my antecedent, to the Emancipation Proclamation and to the 1964 Civil Rights Act. All three civil attempts at freedom were attempts to dictate love through laws. God emancipated us, not through the Law, but from the Law! That's why Martin King had only "A Dream". That dream can only come true when people turn their lives over to Jesus. They are to serve a new Master. "Oops!" you say, "I believe in God, but sin still has dominion over me."
Luke 16:13 "No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."Who do you love? Make sure its God you love. That requires introspection! Stop right now. Are you trying to serve both God and Mammon (man)? If so you haven't truly been emancipated. Your just like those "freed" under the Emancipation Proclamation. On paper you're free, but are you really?
Friday, July 18, 2014
Politics: Dr. Tim Hulsey on Misplaced Priorities
Letter #6, July 18.2014
How the left frames an argument has no consistency. They will argue things from opposite directions in order to make their opposition look bad.
The New York Times wrote about John Christy, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Alabama. He was demonized for believing, from a scientific standpoint, that global warming is neither settled science nor the imminent disaster that progressives are presenting.
He knows climate models can’t mirror the past or come close to actual measured stable temperature over the last twenty years.
Environmentalists portray him as a roadblock to a disaster that “might happen”
Oddly, Obama and his minions won’t respond to disasters that actually “are happening,” such as the crisis at the US-Mexico border, where children are drowning in the Rio Grande if they survive the dangers of traversing Mexico.
This is no theory. It doesn’t take a computer model to suggest it “might happen.” It’s happening to tens of thousand of children from Central America, now. They are in danger, now; distressed, now; catching diseases, now; dying, now.
Interviews show that 80% are leaving home because they think their chance of staying in the US is higher, not because of worsening conditions in their country. Most children don’t choose to leave their families.
Securing the border can address this disaster, now, but Obama would rather spend hundreds of billions on the “maybe” of global warming rather than protecting the country from clear and present dangers.
Obama is failing at protecting the sovereignty and stability of the nation. He is not just neglecting to protect US citizens, he is dumping bus loads of illegal immigrants in their cities unannounced.
He is not showing any true compassion for the children. He doesn’t even want to look at them. He knows they are “undocumented Democrats!”
How the left frames an argument has no consistency. They will argue things from opposite directions in order to make their opposition look bad.
The New York Times wrote about John Christy, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Alabama. He was demonized for believing, from a scientific standpoint, that global warming is neither settled science nor the imminent disaster that progressives are presenting.
He knows climate models can’t mirror the past or come close to actual measured stable temperature over the last twenty years.
Environmentalists portray him as a roadblock to a disaster that “might happen”
Oddly, Obama and his minions won’t respond to disasters that actually “are happening,” such as the crisis at the US-Mexico border, where children are drowning in the Rio Grande if they survive the dangers of traversing Mexico.
This is no theory. It doesn’t take a computer model to suggest it “might happen.” It’s happening to tens of thousand of children from Central America, now. They are in danger, now; distressed, now; catching diseases, now; dying, now.
Interviews show that 80% are leaving home because they think their chance of staying in the US is higher, not because of worsening conditions in their country. Most children don’t choose to leave their families.
Securing the border can address this disaster, now, but Obama would rather spend hundreds of billions on the “maybe” of global warming rather than protecting the country from clear and present dangers.
Obama is failing at protecting the sovereignty and stability of the nation. He is not just neglecting to protect US citizens, he is dumping bus loads of illegal immigrants in their cities unannounced.
He is not showing any true compassion for the children. He doesn’t even want to look at them. He knows they are “undocumented Democrats!”
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