Faith Based

STANDING OVATION OF ONE

October 23, 2024 By Larry Michalk Leave a Comment

From the very beginning of the Christian church, there was opposition, and persecution, and martyrdom.

When Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke boldly about Jesus in the face of the Jewish leaders who didn’t like the convicting message, they were so enraged that they stoned him to death.
The last straw for them was when Stephen looked up to heaven and said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.”

When Jesus ascended back to heaven, the Bible says he sat down at the right hand of God.
But as Stephen became the first martyr for the Christian faith, Jesus stood—He gave Stephen a standing ovation for his bold witness and sacrifice.

I believe Jesus does the same for every martyr since then.

“Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.”

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Inspirational, Political---Cultural, Time

COMMANDS

October 23, 2024 By Larry Michalk Leave a Comment

Commands in the Christian life
Sing
Love
Obey
Serve
Praise
Thank
Endure
Rejoice
Encourage

Then, what about
Peace
+ not a command
+ not a decision
+ not an effort
+ not earned
+ essential
+ a gift

Filed Under: Faith Based, Inspirational

TRAVESTY

October 23, 2024 By Larry Michalk Leave a Comment

TRAVESTY
Of justice
Of logic
Of honesty
Of intellect
Of the soul—of America
Of the soul—of Americans

Travesty—Tragedy of losing foundational standards for stable interaction.

– – –

When you lose sight of the above, and cannot engage in decent conversation about where we are politically and spiritually, you must resort to the following, and make guilty those who disagree with you, instead of owning your flawed strategy.

GASLIGHTING
By political leaders
By democrats
By media
By leftists
By socialists
By marxists
By lgbt
By woke-ists
By D E I-ists

Gaslighting—Guilt successfully deflected from the guilty accuser to the fictitiously accused.

SCAPEGOAT
When one’s argument is weak, you need someone to blame and rail against relentlessly, until accusations become ‘facts’, believed by many.
Those who don’t believe, and try to present truth and facts, are likewise hounded severely for identifying with the named scapegoat.

Filed Under: Education, Educational, Faith Based, Inspirational, Political---Cultural, Time

WANTING TO BE RICH

October 19, 2024 By Larry Michalk Leave a Comment

“Want to be rich” ?
Not good—not good results—according to Jesus.

Wanting to be rich makes you poor in the parts that are for keeps.

“Those who want to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts.” —–Jesus
– – –
– – –
How many Americans,
How many American financial advisors,
How many American preachers,
would feel compelled to add some disclaimer, some comment to make Jesus’ words fit better in our affluent culture ?

The statement straight on might offend people and drive some away.
And that is exactly what happened when Jesus said it, and many other warnings about money.

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Financial, Inspirational, Political---Cultural

3-WRECKING BALL – RESPONSE

October 19, 2024 By Larry Michalk Leave a Comment

Please read in order.
Out of personal respect for my friend, I am sharing only my side of the interaction.

Please re-read what I wrote, instead of your fixation against Trump based on relentless propaganda against him.
You miss my point, like many others so consumed with hate for the man, that you fail to see what is already devastating America, now.
– – –
The classic fact that democrats and the left and you are repeating the accusations and the horrors that you fear for America “if . . .” are the very things that those in power now are successfully waging against America to bring it down.

Historically, psychologically—accuse and criticize others most severely for the wrongs one practices yourself, to deflect attention and blame, while you gain power to control all.
– – –
I’ve been involved long enough to guess that you won’t let go of TDS, Trump Derangement Syndrome, hatred for the person—long enough to hear what I say.
So be it.
But it would be decent if Trump were set aside long enough to talk about where we are now, and where we are headed “with no changes”, as Harris stated.
– – –
Listening to the non-stop blaming everything on Trump for what has gone wrong under the current administration, I have to say, “I didn’t know Trump was president the last 3 3/4 years.
It is a silly, serious blame game and fearmongering, so you can’t or won’t see the trouble the democrat leadership got us in and pledges to continue.
We have third world tyranny underway now—can’t blame Trump.

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Political---Cultural, Time

“HALF SLAVE – – – HALF FREE” ?

October 16, 2024 By Larry Michalk Leave a Comment

It is inconceivable that anyone in America today could live with slavery legal in some states and illegal in other states.

It was the absolute conclusion of Abraham Lincoln for the country, that “the union cannot survive half slave and half free.”

He was absolutely right—slavery or its abolition had to be decided one way or another, at all cost.

And it was decided, at all cost ! ! !

Black people are humans equal to all other people, with equal rights—and our Constitution was amended to guarantee all rights to all Americans.

– – –

Now, this same union of The United States of America cannot survive half death and half life.

Abortion* or its abolition has to be decided one way or another, at all cost.

And it will be decided, at all cost ! ! !

That cost will not be postponed or ignored, by talking about it.

It is inconceivable that anyone in America today could live with death to babies legal in some states and illegal in other states.

*Abortion
Killing fellow human beings—babies, helpless, innocent, babies—infinitely more horrific in God’s sight than enslaving fellow human beings.
The Bible calls for capital punishment for murder.
But for crimes against children, the Bible adds graphically to the execution:
“a millstone hanged about his neck and he be drowned in the depth of the sea.”

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Inspirational, Political---Cultural, Time

“I HAVE A FAMILY”* – – – I CAN’T AFFORD. . . .

October 16, 2024 By Larry Michalk Leave a Comment

I’ve got a job,
I’ve got a family,
I can’t afford to say anything about the wrong things going on in America, around me.
I can’t afford the time,
I can’t afford the risk,
I can’t afford the lost job,
I can’t afford the lost reputation,
if I speak up and get involved.

Is it too soon to get involved ?
Is it too late to get involved ?

Martin Niemoller, a Lutheran pastor in Germany, gave the following confession numerous times in speeches after WWII, remembering the silence of German intellectuals and clergy, including himself, during the Nazis’ rise to power and purging of their chosen targets, group after group.

“First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist.

Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me.”

* A week after American Family Association initiated a boycott of Target stores because of their policy allowing men in women’s private spaces, over one million signatures were included, and growing.
Soon after, I participated with a group picketing in front of the Target store in Temple, Texas.
I had the opportunity for a few words with the store manager.
When I asked him if he personally agreed with the company policy, he said,
“I have a family.”
That says it all, for millions of Americans, who think they can’t do anything or say anything against the evils taking over this country.
And so far, most of us can still say, “They have not come for me.”
But they will, just as surely as Niemoller exerienced.

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Family, Inspirational, Political---Cultural, Time

“WHY, GOD ?”

October 12, 2024 By Larry Michalk Leave a Comment

Got a list of “Why, God ?” to ask Him ?
Consider this, now, about then—good possibility, when we see Jesus, we’ll forget our questions, and most everything else on earth.

But for now:
“My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into all kinds of trouble; know that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work, so you will be perfectly complete and lack nothing.”

I agree, this doesn’t make sense—until we follow Jesus and give Him control of everything.

And even then we often ask “Why?”—until we get to heaven and find out it was all much more than worth it all.

Until then we have His promises in the Bible that guarantee both our outcome and our strength for today.

Filed Under: Faith Based, Inspirational, Time

PROSPERITY – – – OR – – – “SOUL PROSPER”

October 12, 2024 By Larry Michalk Leave a Comment

One of the greatest confusions, the greatest hazard, for Christians, especially in America is this:

Material Prosperity vs. Spiritual Prosperity

Material Prosperity is usually marked by comfort.
Spiritual Prosperity is often marked by discomfort.

Material Prosperity is usually marked by commendation.
Spiritual Prosperity is often marked by condemnation.

Material Prosperity is usually marked by easy times.
Spiritual Prosperity is often marked by hard times.

Material Prosperity is usually marked by wanting more.
Spiritual Prosperity is often marked by wanting less.

Material Prosperity is usually marked by more to hold your heart.
Spiritual Prosperity is often marked by less to hold your heart.

Material Prosperity is marked by greater focus on what you have stored here on earth.
Spiritual Prosperity is marked by greater focus on what you have stored in heaven.

PRIORITIES—first things first—Material Prosperity or Spiritual Prosperity.
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”

Spiritual Prosperity—prayed for and promised—we can have it !
Material Prosperity—prayed for but not promised—many warnings, especially for wanting it !

As America makes the tragic transition from a Christian nation to a Godless nation that is hostile to Christianity, two things will happen spiritually.
ONE–
Some will repent and turn to God, or turn back to Him.
TWO–
Many will turn against God for taking their good life, and for sending His judgment.

History always was and remains His-Story, including The United States of America.
The great American experiment showed and will show His hand in the affairs of man.

In God We Trust
God Bless America

In God We Trusted
God Blessed America
God Judged America

editorial—historical note.
–ed—America really did trust God.
–ed—God really did bless America.
–ed—God really did judge America—the sentence has only begun.

American exceptionalism above measure—indeed !
American exceptionalism above accountability—indeed not !

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Financial, Inspirational, Political---Cultural, Time