Mass shootings die when the people carry guns.
HEART – FAMILY – CHURCH – NATION
May 21, 2022 By Leave a Comment
A nation cannot be right with God if it does not acknowledge God.
A nation cannot be blessed by God if it does not trust in God.
A nation cannot trust in God if its people do not spend time with God.
A national altar is where the leader and the people bow before God to repent of sin and acknowledge His sovereignty and accept His direction in everything.
We cannot truly have a national altar without a God-pleasing church altar.
We cannot have a church altar without a family altar at home.
We cannot have a family altar without a heart altar, where each person spends time with God daily, reading the Bible and praying.
In this country we had all that from the start, and for hundreds of years.
IN GOD WE TRUSTED
GOD BLESSED AMERICA
–
But now . . .
–
IN EVIL WE TRUST
EVIL DESTROYS AMERICA
We have come from: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”
To: “The wicked shall be turned into hell—and all the nations that forget God.”
– – –
So, can the United States of America turn back from precariously plunging over the cliff of calamity?
Yes!
How?
I just now edited this article to make everything singular instead of plural.
The heart—my heart—your heart—one heart at a time changes and turns to God in repentance and surrender—heart altar.
Then the family—one family at a time worships God together in the home, and becomes the most powerful force for good, for change, in the world—because God honors what pleases Him—family altar.
Then the church—one preacher at a time—returns to the secret that made America great within a half century of our beginning—“pulpits aflame with righteousness”—church altar.
Then we can again have a national altar—with leaders who call the people to national days of prayer and repentance and humbly pleading with God to restore our trust in Him and our God-Blessed land.
“In the end, the state of the Union comes down to the character of the people. … I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, and it was not there. I sought for it in the fertile fields, and boundless prairies, and it was not there. I sought it in her rich mines, and vast world commerce, and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power.”—–Alexis de Tocqueville, French historian
(Word of acknowledgment to Daddy for emphasizing the national altar depending on the church altar, the family altar, and in turn the heart altar.)
PROBLEM WITH THEOLOGY
May 21, 2022 By Leave a Comment
I use the above title to get your attention.
Think about this:
Is it not true that almost all Bible teaching follows a pattern?
The leader states a particular teaching definitively, then turns to various Bible verses.
There are two issues with that typical teaching:
+There is not much room for the less learned (less educated) to question the teaching.
+There is not much explanation for how the leader arrived at the stated conclusion.
The unspoken expectation and outcome is this:
Just accept the teaching—and most do.
WHY ?
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OFFER
May 11, 2022 By Leave a Comment
Planned Parenthood* offers complete health care services from cradle to the grave.
Same day service.
One payment.
Save the cost of a cradle.
Save the cost of a grave.
*Planned Parenthood guarantees all our clients ‘Planned Unparenthood.’
TRINITY – – – WHY NO QUESTIONS ?
May 11, 2022 By Leave a Comment
Two reasons no one speaks up about the use of trinity (as well as other teachings):
+Any questions raised about the use of trinity are generally listed as fringe or heretical, like not believing Jesus is God, and are readily dismissed.
+Most Christians cannot distinguish between words of man and Words of God, and so they accept both equally.
Both of the above are inadvertently, or intentionally, meant to intimidate any criticism of what the learned leaders have set in stone.
There is built-in, dangerous pressure to accept what the church says because church fathers said it millennia ago.
Frankly, I’m not impressed anymore.
Yes, there are impressive and comforting things said by Christians, and I add my own.
But for creating foundations for doctrine, we must direct everyone to search their own Bible first.
The Bible must be the source, not the backup, for statements written by people.
We fall in danger of communicating that the Bible is not sufficient and needs our help.
Most theological teaching starts with a doctrinal statement, FOLLOWED by Bible verses, or more commonly just Bible references.
What if all our doctrinal statements, our beliefs, our ‘distinctives,’ our creeds, simply quoted Bible verses?
When Luther said, “No, but I’m as sure as there’s a God in heaven, . . . My warrant is the Word of God . . .” he was responding to a question about feeling forgiven.*
How about including all man’s words in “. . . naught else is worth believing.”
There is plenty of room for discussion and teaching, if we start with the Bible, and if we continue going back to the Bible.
Following any teaching with loyalty to a person who said it leads to division that Paul spoke against, with names including himself (“. . . I am of Paul, I am of Apollos . . .”).
*Someone asked Luther, “Do you feel that you have been forgiven?”
Luther answered, “No, but I’m as sure as there’s a God in heaven, for feelings come and feelings go, and feelings are deceiving. My warrant is the Word of God, naught else is worth believing.”
COUNTERFEITS – – – GOOD FOR NOTHING ?
April 23, 2022 By Leave a Comment
Counterfeits do exist—always have, always will.
So can anything good come from them?
Counterfeits are bad, but are they worthless?
– – –
Counterfeits come in paper form
Counterfeits come in human form.
+Counterfeits can buy stuff, for awhile.
+Counterfeits can do miracles.
+Counterfeits can look good.
+Counterfeits can fool some.
+Counterfeits can fool many.
+Counterfeits can’t fool God.
– – –
Counterfeits also come in supernatural form—aka satan, in the Garden of Eden.
He lost the war with God, to take over heaven, so . . .
Ever since then, he has given all his resources to messing with God’s creation and tricking His people to believe his lies and act on them.
“Did God really say . . .?”—–satan’s first words, to Eve—effective, and effective ever since
When you realize that satan can only create counterfeits and legitimize lies, then you can better counter him.
“He is the father of lies.”—–His Book
“We are not ignorant of his devices.”—–His Book
“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”—–His Book
– – –
Jesus quoted the Word of God to cancel satan’s lies when he tried taking Him down when He was hungry.
The Word of God is our best weapon—“the Sword of the Spirit”—to detect satan’s counterfeits and to defeat them.
Spend time in your Bible, daily.
Focus on something from the Bible, first thing in the morning.
Focus on something from the Bible, last thing at night.
Leave your Bible open, where you will see it several times a day.
You will grow stronger spiritually, with more victories defeating the devil.
You will get more attacks from the devil, but you will learn how to deal with them, right away.
FORGIVE – – – MUSLIM ? OR CHRISTIAN ?
April 20, 2022 By Leave a Comment
What do you say to Muslims that you know?
If you are a Christian, you will want to tell them about Jesus.
How?
Genuine conversation about anything is good.
When you have an opportunity, ask them to share about their religion.
Honestly learn about what they believe.
Try to find out how satisfied they are with what they believe—how do they feel, beyond just what they have been taught.
If they ask you about what you believe, tell them simply what Jesus did to pay for your sins.
If they don’t ask, you can introduce the topic of what they do when someone hurts or offends them, or when they do that to someone else.
I don’t know what they are likely to say, but is unlikely that they will talk about forgiving.
It is also unlikely that they will talk about their god forgiving them.
Somewhere in your conversation, in your relationship, in your friendship, you can share how wonderful it is to hear about forgiveness, and experience enormous weight lifted from your heart and soul.
Muslims need to hear that the difference between Islam and Christianity is forgiveness.
Muslims have to earn heaven, and never know if they will make it (Muhammad didn’t know).
Jesus earned heaven for us, and He offers us a mansion there with Him, for free.
Every Muslim, every person, needs to hear that—perhaps from you.
“PERFECT SOUNDNESS”
April 16, 2022 By Leave a Comment
When Peter and John encountered the lame man on their way to the Temple in Jerusalem, instead of giving him alms (money), they healed him in the name of Jesus.
Shortly after, they were accosted by the Jewish leaders asking for an explanation.
Peter and John answered them that by the name of Jesus this man was walking in “perfect soundness” in full view of everyone.
This gave them another perfect opportunity to share the good news about Jesus, and suffer for it with jail time and beating, and get released, and do it all over again the next day.
– – –
The man in the story was perfectly healed, physically.
Our greatest need is perfect soundness—in our soul—healed spiritually by the power of Jesus.
END TIMES ? – – – WHO’S RIGHT ?
March 17, 2022 By Leave a Comment
Lots of scary stuff in the world today, in Biblical proportions, even getting attention of those who don’t usually regard the Bible.
Many educated folks lay out different detailed sequences of coming events, which may or may not be helpful, as they interpret Bible prophecy.
The average person has two choices—pick one scholar of theology and trust and follow—or, get tired of hearing about end times and ignore it all so you can go on with everyday life.
– – –
But there is one universal catch—unmistakable and unavoidable no matter what your theology or lack thereof.
We may not know how or when the world will end, but we all know we will end—we just don’t know when.
– – –
And, everyone in every culture in all history knows there is something after life ends here.
People try hundreds of different ways to get ready for that, but the only sure thing about all that—they can’t all be right.
What if I don’t pick the right one?
What if you don’t pick the right one?
– – –
Does somebody out there have the right answer, FOR SURE, for this one question?
Can I know how to get ready for the end—the end of my life here—regardless of the end of the world?
I have to know.
– – –
Consider this: the One Who started this life has something to say about this life, AND after this life.
“There is a way that seems right to man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”
“I am going to prepare a place for you. I will come again, and receive you to myself, that where I am, you may be also.”
The One Who said that, would be Jesus.
He made all this, and He has something to say about all this, and He wrote it all down in a book, what we’re supposed to do about all this.
It’s not a mystery—it’s very simple—you can read it for yourself.
In fact, you’re probably reading this on the internet—so punch in John 3 and read the first 21 verses, for starters—it’s all about Jesus, Who died on the cross to forgive your sins and take you to heaven when you die, if you tell Him you accept.
– – –
Preppers for this life are often laughed at—until . . .
The stakes could be pretty high, if they are right.
Preppers for after this life are also often laughed at—until . . .
The stakes will be much, much higher, if they are right. Actually, not if they are right, but if Jesus is right.
– – –
So, THE question—are you in or out?—with Jesus, or not?—“He who is not with me is against me.”
That would be too big a gamble to be against Him, if Jesus is Who He says He is.
Your choice, now—no prepping after this life—after your end here.
There’s more, and you know it.
There’s a way, and you know it now.
THEOLOGIANS AND BUREAUCRATS
March 10, 2022 By Leave a Comment
The term bureaucrats is generally used as a negative label, and bureaucrats are usually viewed as part of the problem rather than the solution to the problems in a society.
Theologians are highly regarded only by other theologians, and by those brainwashed to follow their teaching because of their impressive education, and tradition.
I am amazed how these two systems, one cultural and one spiritual, get away with controlling masses of people perpetually. It’s as though people actually feel a need to willingly check their mind in at the door of the government and the church. Then periodically the theologians and bureaucrats breed reformation and revolution when they get drunk on the opportunities that power gives and overstep their control of the people.
When common people have simply had too much . . . and react to spiritual as well as cultural dictatorships, both get bloody historically. But it also seems in every period of history, including the present time, that people think we have progressed to avoid the pitfalls of the past. We naively count on negotiations and diplomatic solutions to political impossibilities, while the powerful laugh and pursue their agenda. So we blindly plunge into repeating history at the hands of tyrannical killers.
And it’s not much different in the church than with the rest of the controllers of the world. In fact, the most powerful church leaders participate in appeasing bureaucrats and wannabe dictators. They believe themselves to be powerful enough to control the outcomes, and they have too much invested in their financial structure and in the dedication of their following to let go—can’t admit their humanity instead of their godlike authority.
There was a considerable period of time when the church did in fact have that absolute control, even over the government. The similarities between the church bureaucracy and the government bureaucracy overlapped until they became synonymous. The church was the government, and the spiritual well-being of the people suffered severely. The breaking point was the Reformation—and the church, the theologians, led the bloodbath themselves.
Oh my, we think we know better now, because we know so much more—superior spiritual insight that won’t let it happen again. Church leaders today, led by theologians, have so crafted a compatibility with the culture, rooted in money and all the stuff and power it buys, that they have become impotent to condemn evil, and then light the narrow way of Jesus.
That’s why America kills babies. Who is responsible for the current bloodbath of abortion (49 years, 60 million dead) and the coming bloodbath of tyranny?
That’s why America forbids children praying in school.
That’s why America forbids children reading the Bible in school.
That’s why America forbids children seeing the Ten Commandments in school, because “they might read them and might be influenced to obey them.”
“Evil triumphs when good men [Godly men] do nothing.”
“To do nothing in the face of evil is evil itself.”
Decide to stop depending on theologians or bureaucrats.
Instead, spend time reading your Bible and praying—very first thing in the morning, and the very last thing in the evening. Just do that.