Being Sincere in our Sorrow

As a child I did  something horrible! I did it several times. I took what wasn't mine. Things for which others worked hard! I walked into a friend's house, opened his money box which he had shown only to me, and took part of his money, This sin was two-fold: stealing and betraying! Illicit gain is usually both, but add to that the third wrong: I disobeyed God!

Exodus 20:15 "Thou shalt not steal."
Matthew 22:39b "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

It's obvious that anytime one breaks any commandment several more are broken and if we are guilty of breaking one, we as well have broken them all! For my theft I was a renegade. I was not to be contained by the commands of a distant God. My goal was to please myself! It was to "me" that I knelt at that altar. I was my own idol!

 Exodus 20:3 "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."

Sure I still believed in God, even as a child, but I put "ME" before "GOD"!

Later on in life I worked at a service station. My boss told me that I could repair if I chose to. At the start I repaired and put the money in the cash register, Then Satan's deception kicked in. He said "You don't have to do that work so it's okay that you put part of it in the register and keep some!" I listened to him because I rationalized. Later on Satan used my sin against me. "You can have all the money. It's all yours because you did all the work!" I proceeded to listen to the adversary. I began to pocket 100% of the money. It wasn't much, but amount doesn't matter! Jesus was sold out for 30 pieces of silver. Perhaps that's why God hates theft so much! It's ill-gotten gain.

Jump ahead to 2007. This sin always weighed on me! Because God loves me and forgave me, he still allowed me to feel guilt. Why? Because I had not made restitution!

Exodus 22:12 "And if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof."

Before we can be forgiven and the slate wiped clean "sorrow" must be sincere. It's easy to feel bad because a person did wrong, but "sorrow" is contrition enough to make things right to those who were wronged. Repenting is seeking God's forgiveness, but restitution is seeking forgiveness of those wronged and is a measure of just how sorrowful a sinner is!

Restitution is making wrongs right. It's more than replacing what was stolen. It's admitting the sin and seeking forgiveness from the other. As a final measure, what was taken is to be returned!

Since I had taken a small amount years before, I could easily give that amount back. It would be an insincere measure of my sorrow because taking what I took would be easy. Money has time value! What I owed the man grew over time. I was led to repay him 500%. That was a sacrifice for me even at that time, However, I received forgiveness from the man who was then 86 years old, then shook his hand and returned what was his with interest. It was me who got the blessing! Guilt was removed from my shoulders. My repentance was closed. My sorrow led to restitution.

Before we move on, let me mention one more incident. I needed a part for my furnace. I put it in my pocket at work and walked all the way to the door. Almost there I remembered God's word. I was stealing! I immediately walked back and put it in its place. Satan spoke to me then as he had before! He said "It's a gigantic corporation. To take that relay does not hurt anybody!". I replied to him, "Liar!", and returned the relay. I had been severely tempted, but rejected Satan's deception. Guilt, the tool of the Holy Spirit, made me consider what I was about to do! Guilt is a good thing. It keeps us from being psychopathic sinners because they are without remorse. Those who don't feel guilt are called reprobate!

My restitution was not of me. God is not proud of me even for making things right. My restitution was merely obedience to him, and even that act was as filthy rags to him. What pleased God was that a sinner such as I still cared what God's will is! He looked at my heart and considered it's condition. It was still malleable and he likes that!

When I stole from my employer and was about to steal from another, I rationalized my actions: "It's just a little amount and it's a big company", I thought. Rationalizing is Satan's method of getting us to justify wrong. It's how Satan twists our mind to do what's wrong. That gift of rationalizing is called "reason" and that's what our forebears got at the "Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil". We know the difference now, since we're no longer innocent of sin, but with that knowledge of right and wrong, we are weasels. We use reason to make wrongs right in our own mind. Rather than seeking to please God by standing under his tree, we stand under our own. We use our own devices to appease our god, "Me" and all the while say "I'm okay with the One True God!"

Restitution is not always monetary. We can repay hate by doing acts of love. We can repeal what we've coveted by being generous to others. We can cancel out our the use of God's name in vain, by praising him with the same words. We can make amends for lying by always being truthful. We can quit killing  others by loving all God's creation and doing what God commands! Yes, even "hating" a person is killing him or her! What we do in our minds is the same sin as what we do with our bodies.

Hopefully the reader gets the point. As Christians, change is required. It's easy to "believe", but "change" is the hard part. "Change" is a measure of how much we love God! He tells us that!

John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

Southern Comfort

The region of the United States known as "The South" is famous for hospitality. It's in the "Bible Belt". Specifically, Kentucky has been a hotbed of Christian activity over it's history. Many people migrating from New York, to New Jersey, to Virginia, to North Carolina came finally to Kentucky before they moved westward. Likewise, those from Delaware and Maryland ended up coming through the Cumberland Gap..

The Ohio River brought many more from Pennsylvania and beyond to ""Kah-ten-tah-teh', meaning 'Fair Land of Tomorrow' or 'Land Where We Will Live Tomorrow'."  (A History of the Daniel Boone National Forest 1770 - 1970). Since pale faces had trouble with that mouthful, this land came to be called "Kentucky".

 Martin Wilkes Heron (1850–1920), the son of a boat-builder, in 1874 at McCauley’s Tavern in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana was the originator of "Southern Comfort". (New Orleans Restaurants & Cuisine: Southern Comfort). However, long before that, Kentucky had it's own brand of "southern comfort". It is "Kentucky Bourbon".  It is supposed that "Kentucky Bourbon" also came from Louisiana. However, the Reverend Elijah Craig who lived in Bourbon County,  Kentucky, is who is credited with bringing this "southern comfort" to Kentucky ( John E. Kleber, ed., The Kentucky Encyclopedia; Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1992, 103)

Today, Americans consider it strange that Baptists, even Baptist preachers would not only consume, but manufacture "spirits".  "Spirits" are alcoholic beverages which contain the psychoactive drug ethanol. It alters perception, mood and consciousness.  This alteration in personality is what people seek to exist in this cruel world! In the South people turn to it for "southern comfort".  Alcoholic beverages mellows the one who imbibes, creating a more apathetic attitude and demeanor.

Too often, and much so, people turn to alcohol, not only for recreation, but for comfort. It's the "soma" which George Orwell coined to enable people to exist. Problems are blurred by alcohol, but it does nothing to solve problems. Thought processes are altered by its use, and the main problem with alcohol is not that it's addictive, but it disengages the user from reality. Those who depend on alcohol for comfort, whether southern or northern, are deceived by the evil one who wants people to fail to consider what God offers.

1 Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"

If anyone is under the influence of spirits (alcohol)  that person is under the influence of spirits (demons)!  We are to remain sober to protect ourselves from destruction! We are at war with darkness and the devil seeks to destroy us; specifically our salvation, but on the way, the body may be  a casualty!

Without alcohol, what can we depend on to comfort us? How can we make it with the day-to-day hardships? What is our "soma"?

John 14:16 "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever..."

When Jesus left for his seat in heaven, mankind was not left alone! Jesus is the Comforter, but God left another Comforter. Who would that be?

John 14:26 "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

The Holy Ghost is the very "Spirit of God"! Yes, there are evil spirits which deceive, but the Holy Spirit comforts. He aids us, if we are vigilant to his admonishments,  to get through  the toils of life! However, to heed the Holy Spirit we must be vigilant, and to be vigilant, we must remain sober. "Southern Comfort" nor "Kentucky Bourbon", not only fail to comfort, but puts a barrier in the mind to the instruction and comfort in the Holy Spirit, THE Comforter!

Christians don't need Southern Comfort when we already have the "Comfort of the Kingdom of God", which is God's elixir available  that we may cope and are not destroyed! When troubles arise, people turn to alcohol when a better "beverage" is available. The Holy Spirit is represented as "Living Waters" and that is "God's Comfort"!

Revelation 7:17 "For the Lamb (Jesus) which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."

Are you drinking the wrong beverage? Should men be drinking Southern Comfort or Living Waters? Which spirit leads men? Is it "spirits' through the demon's deception with alcohol. or is it the Holy Spirit? Is it the deceiver on whom men depend or is it Truth departed by the Lamb of God? It's not the drink which enters the mouth which is wrong, it's the drink that deceives the spirit. How can the Holy Spirit comfort a person who is already being comforted by a strong drink served by a strong demon?

With all our tears here on earth, only the Spirit is able to truly Comfort! We must allow him to do that, and with faith, God will never give us more than we can stand! He never promises a rose garden, but a mere Garden of Eden. Those who lean on the Holy Spirit will smell the herbs therein. The ones who lean on spirits may never sniff the fine aroma in God's garden!

Job is a fine example of leaning on the right spirit. Follow his example and prosperity will return. With his losses he never turned to alcohol, but to God! Let God be the Comforter!

The Holy Spirit of God is not only "Southern Comfort", but he is the "Ultimate Comfort". All we need to do is to fill our bellies with the drink of "living waters":

John 7:38  "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."

That my friends, is holiness coming from the drink of sobriety, the Holy Spirit!

Christians Don't Love God

I feel lost not writing when I'm inspired. Then regardless of whether it's read or not, today I write. I may not tomorrow because I may not be inspired tomorrow!

Today, I agonize over one thing: I live my life to obey God, but yet I feel insufficient in my Christian life because I have trouble "loving" God. I do believe in, have faith in, trust him and respect him, but loving is the hard part!

We are accustomed to having the emotion of love.  An emotion is the human body's response, both physically and mentally, to excitement. It doesn't need to be wondrous excitement, but can be as simple as gratitude. On the other hand excitement can be fearful as well. Basically, emotions are how the body responds to the surroundings; the input into our body system.

Let's take sexual attraction., for instance. From a man's viewpoint, because we're visual, when we view a beautiful woman in a bikini, we respond. Sure, we say that we merely enjoy what God created, but in all honesty, that's a nearly impossible task. Men respond, even into old age!

Admiration comes at first glance. We think "What beautiful dark hair!" Most often the interaction time is so fleeting that the emotion of "appreciation" ends here. With more time, we notice other attributes and with that, our body system starts to act. Our eyes examine, our mind processes and our body responds. With response the emotion of "lust" engages. We can feel it! Our heart beats faster, we warm inside and our mind, if we allow it, can take a joy ride through fantasy land. It's that ride that God tells us to flee. It's imperative to keep our exposure to temptation to a minimum!

What I described is an emotion that most of us have felt. Many confuse "lust" and "love". Love doesn't have exotic and abrupt signals. It may be mere content. With that the body becomes apathetic in reality. With contentment comes a feeling of being "pleased". We are satisfied with the security of having someone to share life with, and maybe even have happiness in companionship. What I'm alluding to is that "love" does not have heavy-duty tell-tale signals to flag the emotion. Its' most difficult to even know if we're in love because the body and mind aren't consciously engaged in agreeing to the feeling inside.

Love is more an attitude than an emotion. Making a relationship of love requires a positive outlook and a non-critical spirit. This applies to people as well as to God. We must look toward a relationship with a commitment that a satisfying relationship is not only possible, but that it can be!

When the mind and body are in disagreement, we're confused. Many mistake the excitement of a fast-beating heart and being flush with "love". That's why those in "lust" think they are in "love" and relationships fail because emotions are misread. God wants us to experience love while Satan is content with us being confused between the two. Many relationships do start with lust, but mature people oftentimes outlast the lust until love develops. That's right... love is something people mature into through time!

Lust is instantaneous. "Lust" is what's commonly called "love at first sight". because of the strong emotional response our body feels, we think "It's meant to be!". However, most often it's not!

I'm not sure that "love" is an emotion as is "hate"! With hate we have biological and physical responses to outside events or people so that we have the same palpitations and inside burning that we have with lust. In fact from a Christian standpoint,  lust and hate have more in common than lust and love! Lust, without enduring friendships, can quickly grow into hate! Satan wants us to hate each other because God is "love", hence he uses lust to advance hatred!

My point in this argument, is that "love" may not even be an emotion! It certainly is an "obligation" and therefore a "work". When we take wedding vowels we pledge to love each other. We can't swear that we will "feel"  love for the rest of our lives, but we can swear that we will put forth the effort to love each other! There are ways to "work" at love: Communing is one. Empathy is another. Sharing another, etc.

Secondly, God says in effect "love me by obeying my commands". That is the "work" of love. We do things which God likes and don't do things God dislikes! He wants us to love him, others and even our enemies. He wrote standards in stone in how we demonstrate love. There are ten! We can't even do ten things to show our love, so how is it that we love God? That's what's hard for me. I question my love for God at times because the emotion is not there, and I fail him in my works.

I do get excited about God! I get happy when people turn their life over to him. I hope that's a sign that I love God rather than "that person is now just like me!". It goes back always to self-interest. It's hard to discern whether we  love God, or merely our self! For instance, if I'm born again, am I excited because I'm in a safe space and fear of death is under control, or do I love God for his grace in making me a new person? It's difficult, you must admit!

Let me be an alien for a moment. I come to earth and see human beings. I look at different peoples and focus in on those who claim to love. I read their book and say "That's good. I like that religion!" Let me watch some of those who claim to be "born-again", followers of Christ. It's not evident that many followers do much following. In fact I would swear, as an alien, that they must have another God. It seems that they are into "self worship" because they aren't doing what their God says he wants them to do! They are doing what's right in their own eyes.

As I, the alien, continue to watch this religion of "love" seems to do much "hating"! There is a battle it seems. These Christian earthlings battle in mysterious ways. They have built forts with steeples and put different names on their forts. They gather there because they're right and those in the other forts are wrong. They stand at a parapet and hurl verbal bombs at each other. Yes, some have twisted what their book of love says, but others are just into the "self". Only their regiment is right. In fact each person has their own little agenda which satisfies their "self".

Within these forts scattered throughout the communities are secret warriors. They sit there in their pews and criticize the officers and each other. They have their own rules of engagement and get angry when the officer in charge challenges their methods of operation. The officer is often devoted to God, but it seems that the soldiers battle only for themselves. In fact there is little camaraderie. People either don't obey the book at all, append it as out-dated, add easier rules or totally ignore what the book says because they would rather be worshiping the "self". They want to "do it my way!" where "my" is their "self".

I'm just an alien but I'm confused! Why do these followers of what they claim, not follow who they claim? I saw in their book, which I read, that there are certain things they can do which sets them apart and demonstrates to their God that they love him. Not many people are doing those things!

Their excuses are many! Some are just lazy. Some have another God before him and others are confused because of "grace". Since God has grace and their salvation is a free gift, they claim that a life of sin is of no consequence. They think that God's love covers disobedient people. Grace is what God has for them before their saved, but afterwards what they do does matter! People aren't into the "doing" part. It's the believing that comes easy, but as an alien I see that even what they call demons believe! Then what is the difference?

Back to the earthly me now. I have trouble loving God because I have trouble with obedience. As long as this troubles me, I feel guilt, and know that God is still betrothed to me. If a person has no guilt and can sin freely then they become calloused and are reprobate.

Back then to me as an alien: I don't know when that happens, but God does. As an alien to the earth, now returning to my assumed role, it seems that most Christian earthlings are alien to Christianity! I hope that I'm mistaken because oftentimes I'm one of them!

To overcome the devil, one must not go by emotion.We have a "promise of salvation" and faith is trusting that promise. If we weigh our salvation on an emotional concept of love, we're doomed. We measure our love by how we treat others and what we do for them. Again, many of us must be aliens because I don't see many Christians loving God by doing what he asks us to do!

Why?

I am discouraged so I am ceasing writing for awhile. Readership has dropped for some reason. Apparently, I may be stepping on too many toes, or else, I'm merely admonish scripture poorly. Bear with me while I seek spiritual guidance on what to do with my "Daily Thought".

What Do you Think?

Think on it! I do that all the time. Seldom do I feed my mind recreation. I never did! I have fun and pleasure, but my mind is never idle.

Terri asked, when I had remarked that I never heard of "The Eagles",  "What did you listen to when you were a teen?" My response was "The roar of a tractor engine!" That's why I think. Much of my thinking is done as I run or bicycle. In college as I fell into the throes of rapid eye movement, I solved complex calculus problems. I find solitude the best environment for cognition. Silence fuels synaptic fires!

I think on complex things. Why am I here? Is God real? What is truth? How do animals exist whose systems have such complexity? However, one of my favorites, and I think on it often, is "How can it all be?"  That thought is twofold: How can God be forever and how can forever be? I think my thoughts are profound, but look at this:

Isaiah 55:8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

For now, let's forget "my ways" and focus on "my thoughts";  the thoughts of God. Most people would agree "Herrin has deep thoughts!". I'm not alone. Unless you and Maryjane are close friends, it's likely that you think on these things as well!  Perhaps not as often as I do, but we all wonder!

My deepest thought both astounds me and confuses. It is one thought which intimidates me beyond the imagination because this profound thought is mere teasing by God. Yes, God knows, for he is omniscient.  My thought goes beyond the creation. It is on "what is not"!

Scientists can explain, but not to my satisfaction, what the creation is and how it happened, but they can't begin to explain what was before the creation! Think on that!

The creation takes up space. There was a void in which matter and energy was placed. Scientists are futile in their explanations of how it came to be, but make no attempt to explain "where it was put". At one time even Albert Einstein said it was created by God! The next generation said "Creation occurred with the Big Bang", and now the wisdom of the ages is that "what is was always". There was no creation. Everything has always been!

Can all be right? First off, let us deal with "nothingness". What must have always been is emptiness. Mass and energy can move about in nothingness, hence nothingness is something. It's the vessel which holds all things. However, this vessel is boundless. Go any which way and nothing goes on forever. Void is infinite. My highest most profound thought is where did "nothing" originate and how far does it go? For me there is one answer "It must have begun with God!"

The beginning has to be with God because he was all that existed. I've said it before: "Nothingness was not void, it was filled with God's Holy Spirit!"

Revelation 1:8 "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."

The Lord God said that everything began with him. That's "omnipotence". God is "all-powerful"!  If that's true, and offer me an alternate explanation, God filled that emptiness and created matter and energy which now fills a little part of nothingness.

Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."

What God "created" was "in the beginning". Hence, "nothing" was created by God in which to place what he created. God is the beginning. He had to be! But did God have a beginning or did he just "begin" to create? See how deeply one can think on the power of God? But think more deeply than that! Without God "nothing just happened", "because nothing caused it". Void just always was, then "poof", everything became into being without reason just because "chance" did all the right things, which by the way, weren't in existence; took the right conditions and the perfect time, and then it all came together in perfect harmony , and voila, we have creation!

Where was God when even void was created. He just WAS.

Exodus 3:14a  "And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am..."

In effect God was saying that only he is without beginning, and of course he is without end. God always WAS and always IS and always WILL BE.

Surely people who believe that "chance" created all things have no trouble believing that Higg's boson farted and pleasant smelling solid matter filled the diaper of space. Naive people need to think beyond natural phenomena because according to God "my ways higher than your ways"! I believe with all the faith which exists in my mind, that God is the ONLY explanation. Great minds believe that too! Einstein said:

 "God does not play dice with the universe."

The greatest human mind thought, and his mouth responded, in saying in effect "Creation is not by chance, God created it!" No Einstein was not a religious man. He never professed a personal relationship with God. He's the epitome of self absorption because he attempted to explain it all! However, Einstein came to a point where he realized that without God there is no explanation! He humbly had to admit that he found no cause and effect relationship to explain the universe, so he relegated it to the God in whom others believe!

Can you imagine in the beginning as God set everything into motion. He has said "as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways".  We merely attempt to explain what God did, but God DID IT!  God had a perfect plan for everything, his drawing board was his own mind and his tools were his thoughts. Was the boson which released energy and became matter, rather than the fart of chance, a "will" from God?

I won't go into detail, but natural acts takes tremendous amounts of time. A boson can erupt in a moment, but it would take billions of years of time for reactions to make recognizable and useful things. With God time is without definition (2 Peter 3:8). God squeezed actions normally requiring billions of years into an instant in time. Silly? What is the alternative? If something can be made from nothing, isn't it plausible that it can be done in an instant. That's the way of a god. That's God's way of doing things! He's not limited by what his creation can comprehend; his power is boundless!

God's voice said " I am the Almighty God"! What does "almighty" mean? It means "absolute power". It's power beyond definition or comprehension. It's power beyond our thoughts! We can't fathom that absolute power because God said "my thoughts than your thoughts"!

Furthermore, God doesn't want us to know his ways! Adam and Eve wanted to be as God and know what God knows. They were punished and cursed. Wanting to know what God knows has always been mankind's fault. Einstein attempted to know what God knows. He failed! Stephen Hawking, said to be "the smartest man in the world" fails! I'm not smart, but I have more wisdom that Hawking! I understand that man will never be able to know God's ways or God's thoughts! Hawking doesn't believe in God. His god is "chance" and we are who we are because dice were rolled, but by whom we do not know!

Genesis 11:4 "And they (the whole earth) said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth."

A tower was built to see into the heavens. The people sought to know what God knows (make us a name). Somebody, then, was a picture of Stephen Hawking today! We know from archeology that the zigurat they built was one for astronomy and astrology, inseparable then as now.  In order to explain us, they looked to the cosmos, not in search of God, but desiring to know what God knows. They repeated Adam's and Eve's sin, and just as they were punished, the whole people of the earth were scattered and their language confounded. They became mere "babblers" to each other! Hawking continues the babbling!

God doesn't want mankind to know his ways nor his thoughts. We have always envied God and sought to know how it all happened. He told us: He created it, yet we still don't believe although there is no other explanation!  How he "willed it" is not scientific. Science does not create. Science merely seeks to learn what God did. Why? Because they fail to see the need for God in their lives. If they explain " the ways of God" well enough then they make for themselves "a name"! They are as gods in their own eyes!

My God is not Stephen Hawking. He will be just as John Brown shortly; his body moldering in the grave. I won't judge his soul. God will do that, but if God is truth, then we know what happens to those who fail to trust God. Realizing that God is the Creator and he did the creation in his own time, is trusting in God! If God can create he can renew. If he can birth then he can make us "born again"! My faith lies in Jesus, God incarnate. If you're depending on the likes of Stephen Hawking, then your god is a fool and you are fooled!

Fast Women of the Bible

I've been stepping on toes. People don't like to be reminded of how they live. It's all supposed to be "name it and claim it" stuff with a little of Joel Osteen's pop psychology thrown in. Readers look for positive affirmations and team building. I'm being negative when I speak of punishment and hell because God's all about love isn't he? Well, today we're going to go into "reality scripture".  It should get the attention of those who wait patiently through a boring program just to see a few improprieties, so to speak! Yes, I'm trying to get your attention; so chin up, eyes forward, mind alert and guilt in check!

It's tough to get attention nowadays. Before people heed much of anything there must be essential ingredients: fornication, jealousy, partying, alcohol consumption, dancing, intrigue and lasciviousness. There is much of that in the Bible which teaches against it because that's what people seem to prefer!

Let's look at some "Shades of Gray" in the Bible. Who comes to mind first? For me it's Salome.

Mark 6:21 "And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; 22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias (Salome) came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. 23 And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. 24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. 25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. 26 And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, 28 And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother. 29 And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb."

According to Josephus in  Jewish Antiquities, Salome was the daughter of Herodias and Herod II, Herod's brother and the first husband of Herodias.  Because John chastised Herod for his incestuous marriage Herodias bore a grudge! The story therein has much implied. Many have portrayed Salome's dance in plays and movies.  The dance was "Dance of the Seven Veils" so called by Oscar Wilde. Using veils, this dance for the head of John the Baptist was an early striptease, as was common in that era.

Here we have a reality play filled with intrigue! This is what people want. Herod was desiring his step-daughter who just happened to be his own brother, Philip Herod's wife!  Talk about "Sex in the City"! The Bible has it all. If you want melodrama and sex. you've come to the right place!

John the Baptist lost his head because a sultry woman stripped for her brother-in-law and step-father. Beat that Fifty Shades of Gray!

There are ironies and consequences though! First off,  John was allowed to die! If Jesus had chosen to,  John's head would have been spared. However, John's purpose was served. He was born to introduce Jesus to the world, and some had pride in the "Baptism of John". John was unworthy to even tie the sandals of the one who followed, got his reward more quickly than most. I believe that he was one of the saints who defeated death and arose from the grave to walk the city when Jesus was crucified (Matthew 27:52). Can you imagine the guilt of those who caused John's death if they did see him walking the streets, beheaded but alive!

This sexual saga had other consequences. According to the Letter of Herod To Pilate the Governor, Salome was decapitated when the ice failed and broke through as she was playing, and as it broke she was decapitated. As she died her mother Herodias held her head! That my friends is called "poetic justice"! Salome and Herodias suffered dire consequences! Which was worse: being decapitated or having your own mother witness the decapitation? Both were punished severely and deserved it!

There is much more to titillate, many of which can cast dark shadows over Fifty Shades of Gray! Perhaps Jezebel should be considered. For millennia now Jezebel has been the standard of comparison for sluts.

Jezebel's marriage to King Ahab was for political reasons. She was pimped for those who sought power. Worse yet, she brought her evil gods of Baal and  Asherah to the the Israelite monarch. Asherah was "Queen of the Heavens" and she was worshiped "before God". Before the One True God, Hebrew people worshiped multiple gods, along with God. That is called syncretism and is forbidden by the First Commandment! Not only that, but Baal was the god of fertility. Only the imagination can fathom what sexual deviations and licentiousness went on in those dens of iniquity where foreign gods were! Some Baal worshiped involved temple prostitutes, both male and female! Because of worship of foreign gods, it was written:

Deuteronomy 23:17 "There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel. 18 Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the Lord thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the Lord thy God."

Whores (prostitutes) were "loose women" (translation from the Hebrew). And as such "sodomites" were homosexuals. Some temple worship had homosexuals to pleasure those in their worship.

A movie made of Jezebel, and there have been some, can never adequately show the deviations in her life. Heavily rouged and provocatively dressed, and near naked, as was the custom in pagan nations, Jezebel is the model for actresses of this day and age. What's worse is that our daughters and granddaughters pattern themselves after Hollywood Jezebels and slutty Madonna's, Lady Gaga's and Miley Cyrus's. Yes, "you've come a long way baby!", but not very far.  You're a little head of Jezebel. but not by much!

There are many many more examples of fast women in the Bible. God doesn't conceal the evil in those people. Even those who were "after God's own heart" failed because of lust, envy and greed. Perhaps the story of David and Bathsheba is to your taste! It involves nudity, adultery, lying, abuse of power, and even murder! Again... there were consequences! David's son died and he was riddled with guilt. He married his object of lust, but consequences followed for all the days of his life. Psalm 51 is about his guilt, sorrow, repentance and its lasting effects on him!

People misunderstand the Bible! It's a reality story. All the characters are real. Everyting is ad lib'd. There was no script to follow. As you read you can sit there in your easy chair and become part of their party. Why pay $12 for a movie about sex and sin when you can read it on paper for free? Everyone knows the book is always better than the movie anyhow. Just read the book!

Keep in mind though, that God included disobedience because he had a reason. Because people were forgiven of deep sins, they love him more because of his grace!

Luke 7:47 "Wherefore I say unto thee, Her (the woman serving Jesus) sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little."

God uses wicked people because when he forgives them, they love him much! People forgiven of much are willing workers because they are thankful for God's grace. Paul was a mass murderer. He gathered Christians and killed them! God used this murderer to great benefit. More people turned their lives over to Jesus because of Paul than for any of his contemporaries.

Do read about the sexual realism, hedonism, intrigue, cheating, adultery, and even murder in the Bible. They're there to read and to learn from them! For you who can't make it without your daily dose of twisted behavior, read the Bible. It's all there from naked people in the garden to dancing bimbos to sleazy drama queens. Liars are everywhere and the King is even offered the world just to become part of it!  As the World Turns is what this book is about! Sex in the City of Sodom and Gemorrah is included.  King of Queens is about Herod and Herodias. Bachelorette is the story of many Jezebels. Survivor is the story of Noah's escape from wickedness.

Stay tuned to read more. Park your butt right there in  the front seat, grab a bottle of Budd and watch John Revelation from Fantasy Island, his home in Crete. You'll like the preview of things to come!

Entertainment: Secretly Poisoned by Wonder Woman

I was reading about Wonder Woman this morning. For some unknown reason I was fascinated by her; not really her, but by Linda Carter.  She was perfect! I'm not sure I saw anything other than Linda Carter the few times I watched this program. As such, I failed to pay attention to the plot, let alone any subliminal messages in the story. However, there is now a book written; an expose' on the author.

In the recent book, The Secret History of Wonder Woman, by Jill Lepore. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2014. 410 pages the writer tells the story of the origins of Wonder Woman. The creator of Diana Prince (Aka Wonder Woman) was Harvard-trained psychologist William Moulton Marston. He was under the influence of Margaret Sanger through his cohabitation with her sister. Marston was an early radical feminist who created this comic strip in times before feminism was in vogue.

I've written (this blog) many times on feminism and its contradiction to God's plan. I've shown that in her assumption of Adam's role and her rebellion against God, that Eve was truly the first feminist! However, feminism takes on an even uglier face with Margaret Sanger. With her type of feminism, she wears an evil death's mask because fornication and its destructive consequences, initiated into the mainstream of American life. Millions of innocent babies are dead today because of Margaret Sanger, her sacrifice to her god Molech and Planned Parenthood, which became an organization from one she founded. Margaret, a lascivious adulterous, is largely responsible for what became known as "reproductive rights" which seems to have replaced the U.S. Declaration of Independence's protection of the right "to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness".

In short, Margaret Sanger is the ugly caricature of evil, and she hides behind Diana Prince, the heroine Wonder Woman!

By modern standards the feminism of Wonder Woman would hardly been noticed. However, for her day, her dominant role in a male society paved new paths. As with most entertainment, there is a message to be conveyed. Of course much entertainment is merely to entertain, but a large proportion is to remold malleable minds. Wonder Woman was created for the specific purpose of making feminism common-place. It helped achieve it's purpose, but what's worse, those who were entertained by Wonder Woman were vicariously remolded. It was by stealth that many were, but propaganda uses opaque messages to transform unsuspecting minds!

Wonder Woman is a mere example. The entire entertainment industry has assumed the role of culture micro-manager. "They" decide what is correct to believe and say by setting the standards for people to believe. Much of what they teach is in opposition to what God wills, but people become the pawns in a match between powers. Just as Eve was deceived by a slick-talking serpent, we all continue to be deceived by vipers disguised as woolly worms!

The most extreme case of irreligious propaganda comes from the music industry. Only a fool would not recognize that the entire milieu of most entertainment is lascivious, disrespectful to God and a tool of left-wing ungodly ideologues. Even average Americans attend concerts and listen to music videos which are a disgrace to what they claim to believe!

Most listeners to rock music would say "I'm my own person. I ignore what I disagree with." Any psychologist would say "You don't really believe that, do you?" for if that was the true case, advertisers would quit making commercials dedicating to swaying the listener toward their product! You are a pawn of entertainment. You are a fool if you don't know that you are!

Have you noticed that movies, music and commercials have made attempts to mold minds in regards to social values? In the past, it was less controversial issues, but today, the desire of social media is to influence the watcher that same-sex relationships are okay, drug use is not harmful, sex outside marriage is acceptable and people who believe in the sanctity of life are the evil ones! George Orwell described this mindset quite well. Entertainment uses "doublespeak" as a propaganda tool. That's where words which once meant one thing assumes the opposite meaning. For instance "pro-life" is now misconstrued as "against freedom" when it is really the epitome of liberty!

Why is this important? We are all in a war and we are slowly losing it. I know the outcome! At some time, the few who are steadfast in the faith will arise to meet Jesus in the air. They will get their reward then whether living or dead. Those remaining will face extreme and outright evil. It will no longer be by deceit. All the world will have a dictator who proclaims himself God, and Christians who become believers in this age will be beheaded for their lack of joining the crowd.

The world won't suddenly change from what is right to an evil dictatorship. Citizens will become acclimated to evil and change will be gradual.  Change will occur until it's too late. Most people will be caught up in evil, not even realizing that evil describes them too! Society will change one step at a time. Incrementally, all  but the discerning, will change. What principles they once believed in will be new. Good will become corrupt and good people will become evil... and not even realize that they are evil!

You're being remolded right now. Your belief system has changed exponentially since you became responsible. The entertainment you love now, years ago, you would have shirked. You believe that you can serve both God and mammon at the same time. You have been deceived, but you fail to realize it!

I taught my children all about this early on. They should be aware that they are mere pawns in this invisible war. However, some of them are deceived as well, thinking that they are straight with God. We have a relationship with God if we do as he says! People gradually become soldiers on the side of evil unless they re-enlist with God. Changing sides in this war is easy, but Satan will try the mutineer. It's not easy being a Christian because your fellow compatriots in arms, will ostracize you.

There is a way to be strong in the Lord and rejoin his army. It must be in sorrow and on bent knee that we change our allegiance back to God's army. We become soldiers who serve a new master. We tell Satan that we are tired of his tricks and want to be honorable in God's sight. Satan will step up the pressure, but it's what a believer must do!

I know who wins the war! It's God. There will be a new kingdom where evil is destroyed. It's your choice: winner or loser! For me, I'm going with the winner, God. My first step is ceasing to be entertained by those recruiting me for Satan's army. In what I see, hear and believe, I will be always alert. One hour of pleasure is not worth and eternity being tortured!