Forever ?
Where ?
“HE WHO KILLS YOU . . .”
February 18, 2024 By Leave a Comment
Jesus said to His followers (disciples, us ?), “You will be hated by all because of Me.”
Then Jesus said, “HE WHO KILLS YOU WILL THINK HE IS DOING GOD SERVICE.”
In light of Jesus’ words, what would be His strongest approval of His followers, and how would He show it ?
Martrydom is God’s ultimate mark of approval/commendation for a Christian.
For the first Christian martyr, Stephen, Jesus gave a standing ovation in heaven.
When Jesus went back to heaven, He sat down at His Father’s right hand, but when Stephen was stoned, he “saw Jesus standing . . .”
I think He does that for every martyr !
“Do not be afraid—just believe.”
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
I heard a dear family friend, Charlie Hohle, say that verse in Daddy’s house after he was martyred.
DISCERNMENT DOESN’T DELAY
February 18, 2024 By Leave a Comment
When BHOB* got in the White House, many were reluctant to call him a muslim.
One prominent Christian leader said on national radio, “He says he’s a christian—I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.”
Recently another leader on Christian radio said (responding to comments by a conservative politician), “Calling Biden guilty of treason may be a stretch.”
We don’t have time for such careful hesitation now.
Play it safe until it’s too late tell the truth ?
What are we waiting for ?
Truth is, ‘Biden and Company’ are committing much more than treason.
They have obviously coordinated the Chinese invasion for some time.
But we are allowing Biden to continue unabated—just like Germany allowing Hitler to continue unchallenged—too late, both countries finding the dictatorship unstoppable. (Eric Metaxas’ current warning !)
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For the hundredth time I’ve heard the outline of the democrats’ plan to get the illegal aliens into a voting block to keep the democrats permanently in power.
It is apparent, with current developments, we will not have to wait for that plan to materialize.
Biden’s surrender to China has been my prediction from his first day in office.
Next step:
TAIWAN—AFGHANISTAN 2.0
Tens of thousands of Chinese sent by their Communist government to invade the United States, will be the instrument of blackmail when China moves to take Taiwan.
China’s warning—If the United States responds to defend Taiwan, China will bring America to its knees overnight, with internal terrorist attacks incapacitating our infrastructure and stability.
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SHOULD HAVE – – – Germany 1930’s
SHOULD . . . . . . – – – United States now
– – –
Who is going to make it happen ?
Is it too late ?
Repeating
Repeating
Repeating “what Biden should do”
Repeating “what Congress should do”
Repeating “what so-and-so should do”
That is now a waste of breath, and a waste of air time.
Is there ANYONE with a real plan, a real message, real action, that will make a real difference ?
Hope is fading that we’ll make it to elections in November, to turn things around.
Hope is fading that we’ll make it to January 2025, to turn things around.
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GOD, HELP US NOW !
God, “we need a miracle.”
(I love that song—still cry when I watch/hear it—not same about America—different emotions—what does God require of us now ?)
*BHOB—Barack Hussein OBama—Say BHHHOB aloud and it sounds like the warning for Christians in the 2008 election: “Beware of sheep’s clothing.”
BARTERING – – – FOR FAULTS ?
February 14, 2024 By Leave a Comment
Bartering in Relationships
Once you read this, you may notice how often bartering between people in close relationships is practiced.
Very simply, when one has a complaint or objection to something in another person, the easiest, habitual, default* reaction is to say, “You do that too, and this too.”
Such bartering is often so automatic that it becomes subconscious, and one is unaware of practicing it.
It becomes a way of life between the two people.
+Does it work ?
Yes—If the other person joins and participates, the bartering goes on and on (and on and on), like a seller and a buyer bickering over trading.
+Does it do any good ?
No—Bickering indeed, without resolving anything, as long as both persons maintain their fault-finding arsenal of defense, ready to fire back upon any occasion of accusation.
+Does it have a solution ?
Yes—At a time far-removed from bartering with faults, recognize what happens and how it is not good, and commit to stop.
When complaints, objections, faults must be addressed, agree that each concern will be addressed on its own, alone.
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Bartering for Heaven
That is: Bartering with God
Many practice this continuously without realizing it, until a close brush with death or a conversation with another person raises the question, “Am I ready to face God ? And, how?”
Most people answer with a list of their good qualities and good deeds, not realizing they are presenting what they have, to barter with God.
+Does it work ?
No—Not with God.
+Does it do any good ?
No—Nothing we have to offer is worth anything in negotiating with God, for heaven.
+Does it have a solution ?
Yes—First, acknowledge and accept God’s terms in everything.
Then, set aside everything you think you have to offer to impress God.
Then, give God what you do have—your sin, and all that goes with it.
Then, accept that Jesus died to pay for your sin, and accept His forgiveness.
If you want to call it bartering, okay—it’s one-sided bartering, all God’s part.
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*default
automatic response to ‘de – fault’—undo or negate fault in yourself, by deflecting the fault onto someone else
FOR ME – – – FOR TODAY
February 14, 2024 By Leave a Comment
“My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body.
Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.”
“GOD, I THANK YOU . . .”
February 14, 2024 By Leave a Comment
God, I thank You that . . .
. . . I’m a good person.
. . . I know about You.
. . . I’m respected by others.
. . . I’m successful.
. . . I live a clean life.
. . . I do good in the community.
. . . I have a good reputation.
. . . I can do without church.
. . . I consider myself a Christian.
God, I thank You that . . .
. . . I’m not like those who cheat on their taxes.
. . . I’m not like those who cheat on their wives.
. . . I’m not like those who cheat on their company.
. . . I’m not like those who cheat on their customers.
. . . I don’t lie.
. . . I’m not in trouble.
. . . I’m not a hypocrite.
. . . I’m not like church-goers who treated me wrong.
. . . I’m not the guilty one in personal conflict.
. . . I’m not part of fake church.
. . . I don’t associate with hypocrites.
. . . I’m not like so-and-so and so-and-so and so-and-so.*
– – –
Jesus spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
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*Addendum to the parable:
God, I thank You that I’m not like the Pharisee—my heart is in the right place.
*Addendum to another parable:
God, I thank You that I’m not like the rich man farmer who “had much goods stored up for many years . . . to take it easy”—my heart is in the right place.
*And in the actual story of an encounter with Jesus:
God, I thank You that I’m not like the rich, young leader who couldn’t give up his “great possessions” to follow Jesus—my heart is in the right place.