“Noah went into the ark a minority.
He came out a majority.”
—–Adrian Rogers
WHEN NOAH WENT INTO THE ARK
November 11, 2023 By Leave a Comment
WE NEED . . . IN OUR SCHOOL
November 11, 2023 By Leave a Comment
Who can we enlist to start a campaign with people carrying these three signs around my school (Temple High School), and your school, and then another school ?
– – –
WE NEED THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
IN OUR SCHOOL AGAIN
– – –
WE NEED PRAYER
IN OUR SCHOOL AGAIN
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WE NEED THE BIBLE
IN OUR SCHOOL AGAIN
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And, cards could be given to passersby:
“Your laws ignore our deepest needs.
Your words are empty air.
You’ve stripped away our heritage.
You’ve outlawed simple prayer.
Now gunshots fill our classrooms,
And precious children die.
You seek for answers everywhere,
And ask the question, ‘WHY?’ . . .”
—–Darrel Scott, father of Rachel, killed at Columbine High School.
Watch Darrel Scott’s testimony and poem before the House Judiciary subcommittee on crime.
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I’m not good at printing signs.
I’ll go alone, but would like others to join.
– – –
Got the prayer.
Got the plan.
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I’d like to know the rules for carrying signs on sidewalks, without asking for permits.
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If a few people, and then thousands of people across the country, carried those three signs in front of their school, some would make the connection, and God would make the difference.
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Please note my emphatic emphasis on “our school” (not schools)—that’s where change starts !
“AMERICA, AMERICA, GOD SHED HIS GRACE . . .”
November 4, 2023 By Leave a Comment
America has indisputably been blessed by God because America had God’s Foundation on God’s Word, even before the Revolution, and we called upon Him throughout our history.
American Exceptionalism, on display for all human history.
IN GOD WE TRUSTED
GOD BLESSED AMERICA
As I was reading the Bible chapters for the previous article, SO YOU WISH THE WORLD WAS DIFFERENT, I was particularly caught by Ezekiel 20.
It is different from the chapter before and after chapter 20.
It is straightforward and clear to follow, as it reviews God’s perspective on leading the people of Israel.
And it struck me so black and white, thinking about America as I read how God dealt with Israel so severely, because He cared for them so deeply.
He would not let them go, even when they turned from worshipping Him.
He had to turn them back, to bring them back, for the sake of His Name, because He had broadcast to the world that Israel was His “chosen” of all people.
There may not be a Biblical record of America being similarly chosen by God of all nations, but there is abundant circumstantial evidence of His hand in the affairs of this country from day one.
For starters, our founding documents were inspired and written by people anointed by God with Bible principles for governing by the people, that go back long before the Declaration.
This had never been done before.
Others have eloquently reviewed hundreds of details in the rest of the American story, that have God’s handprint.
My question here is this:
After all God has done for this country, and through this country, I don’t know if God feels obligated to send what it takes that will turn us around and bring us back to Him in true repentance, like He always did for Israel ?
Then . . . He caused Israel to ‘disappear’ after nearly four millennia, and now . . .
He may, He can, cause America to disappear after nearly four centuries.
He is obligated to do something—judgment—serious, swift, complete, undeniable, unavoidable judgment.
Can God be influenced in any way at this late hour ?
For sure, we cannot expect another reprieve—like 2016-2020, which was an answer to many prayers—without a fundamental change in America to God.
Back to a similar time in history, God said He would have spared Sodom for a few righteous—50, 40, 30, 20, 10—3 was not enough.
In America today, I’m afraid we have a mistaken notion of what it means to be righteous, one of the remnant, those Jesus knows, His people, humble, praying, seeking His face, seeing our specific wickedness to get rid of.
We get used to Bible verses on sin and repentance and teaching on them, and we think we satisfied them.
But we expect to avoid anyone that gets personal about my sin and points a finger in my face and says, “You’re the man.”
Daddy did that, and people did not want to hear it, and preachers hated him, and wanted him gone, and one called on God to kill him.
It cost Daddy to speak against evil in the church, in Christians, repeating Jesus’ words.
It cost John the Baptist to confront the Jewish King Herod for his sexual sin, telling him it was unlawful.
It cost Dietrich Bonhoeffer to confront the church that condoned Hitler, finally getting caught plotting to kill Hitler.
When evil gets bad enough close to home, pacifists become activists.
When sin slaps us in the face, we say something (or do we?).
When Jesus’ words convict us, we stop laying up treasures on earth (or do we?).
When Jesus tells us to get rid of our stuff—because that’s where our heart is—in order to follow Him, do we ?
Living too long accustomed to the good things Sodom had to offer, Lot’s wife’s heart was there.
Even after God sent His angels for escape, she had to ‘just look’ at what she had to leave behind.
The cost was too great for her to leave it all, and it cost her EVERYTHING.
What is the cost to American Christians of what God is calling us to leave behind now ?
What greater cost when we just can’t do it ?
Do we think we can continue with all the good things we have going, in each of our lives, and still follow Jesus with our whole heart ?
Sounds like the deadly rationale of Lot and his family in Sodom.
They chose to live there, and they lived well there—too well, too comfortable.
We are living in Sodom—times ten.
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Something has got to register.
WE’VE GOT TO BE DIFFERENT—DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT !
OR ELSE ?
God may not save America.
God will judge America, severely, now.
God will judge His people in America, for “anyone loving the things of this world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
SO YOU WISH THE WORLD WAS DIFFERENT ?
November 4, 2023 By Leave a Comment
Ok, list five ways you wish the world was different.
For each of the five, list something you can do that will change the world to make it different, like you wish it was.
Now, will you do those five things ?
Will that change the world ?
Will you make the world different, the way you want it ?
Honestly, the answer may be no.
Or, you may have to claim you made a small part of the world different like you wish.
Isn’t that what everyone has to settle for, basically ?
Except for dictators and militant religious fanatics that kill to meet their wishes for the world to be different.
So far even their wishes don’t change the world for long.
But they keep trying.
And that’s why the world is shaping up for one more attempt to change the whole world to meet the wishes of ‘someone’.
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There are always others wishing the world was different—but different from your wishes for different.
So, does wishing, and acting on one’s wishes, make the world different ?
In 6000 years of history the world really hasn’t changed, at least not for the better overall.
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Actually, most wishing the world was different is just a chance to complain.
While some may identify with your complaint, we all quickly grow weary of bemoaning, groaning, and complaining that doesn’t do a bit of good.
Even God got fed up with His Chosen People over their grumbling (after multiple miracles of deliverance and multiple miracles of provision), and He took severe action numerous times to teach them a thing or two.
Then they came around—repented—for a little bit.
Then . . .
Their problem . . .
The problem with all of us human beings is this:
Repent is followed by Repeat.
But here is hope:
If God is involved in our life, in our heart, then there is always room for
Repent followed by Repeat followed by Repent again.
This pattern (with Israel) is related in the Bible several times, and it gives us comfort when we see our own miserable human condition, and it reminds us to take God’s justice and His provision and the fear of the Lord seriously.
We serve the same God that led the Israelites—He chose them, and He chose us by His mercy* and grace.*
Please read these three chapters, that give a dramatic review of God’s care for Israel—deliverance, provision, judgment, forgiveness, blessing, and repeat.
Psalm 78
Ezekiel 20
Psalm 106
*His mercy—not getting what we deserve from God
*grace—getting what we don’t deserve from God
WITHOUT ME, YOU CAN DO NOTHING
November 4, 2023 By Leave a Comment
If the ‘Me’ in the above statement is Jesus, then:
“Without Me you can do nothing” means God called you to do something, as long as you don’t try to do it without Jesus”.
LORD, WHAT DO YOU WANT . . . ?
November 4, 2023 By Leave a Comment
Lord, what do You want me to do ?
Lord, what do You want me [to do] ?
Lord, what do You want me . . . ?
Lord, what do You want—me ?
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Yes, I want YOU—your heart, your mind, your plans—surrendered to Me, so I can then show you My plan for you for today, and direct your path to do it, with freedom and peace.
Then, proceed, but don’t worry !
WE DON’T HAVE TO COME BACK, WE JUST . . .
November 2, 2023 By Leave a Comment
Today I heard the story of a sea rescue station that answered many distress calls from boats and ships in trouble during storms.
The rescue crew had a number of seasoned sailors, most particularly the captain, and they took on new members as needed.
There was one very bad storm when a call came, and they prepared to go for the rescue.
When one of the new recruits saw the severity of the storm, he spoke of his concern to the captain, “This storm is so bad, we might not make it back.”
The captain turned to the young man, and thought of all the rescues in his memory, and calmly said, “We don’t have to come back; we just have to go.”
That is the meaning of ‘calling’ in life.
We may have some choice in what we do in this life, but real purpose happens when a calling from beyond compels us to faithfulness, amid all odds when necessary.
Stories of heroism in all walks of life inspire us to pursue our own, individual calling.
When that calling comes from God, whatever we do for our life’s work has eternal meaning, as our goal includes bringing people to know Jesus.
MIKE JOHNSON – – – ANSWERED PRAYER
October 28, 2023 By Leave a Comment
In my recent article, DEMOCRATS AND IRAN, I wrote what is needed is for our leaders to call for national prayer and repentance, like many Americans have done in the past.
And God heard and helped.
Two days ago God heard and answered my prayer and many Americans’ prayers for the Speaker of the House.
God gave us a leader who openly bases his views and his life on the Bible.
That is going back to where we came from, and what made America great.
I will pray for Mike Johnson to follow the convictions he has so clearly committed to.
God Bless America again.
“BIRTH PAINS” – – – TODAY ?
October 28, 2023 By Leave a Comment
Recent saturation of end times teaching—seems to force Christians to pick a position and follow a teacher (or ignore and forget it, and find a church that does).
Read Revelation.
Read Daniel.
Read Jesus.
Read for yourself.
Ask God for wisdom to apply what you understand.
Trust God and wait, for what you don’t understand.
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Everybody’s in a hurry, teaching on end times—why ?
Seems like they have to review and run through details quickly to make up for uncertainty in some of the details.
Since you can’t prove everything definitively, they have to state some things as given, and move on—or they’ll never get through their teaching lesson.
It takes too long to go back to the basics, back through the basics, only from the Bible.
So they have to assume the listener already understands the basics (as they understand the basics).
Then they have to add details to make their timeline fit.
Sometimes honest teachers at least say, “I think . . .” on certain points—so should I follow the rest of their teaching as ‘gospel truth’ ?
(Read PROMISES OR INFERENCES on this site.)
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What is the goal in teaching Bible prophecy on the end times ?
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What should be the goal in teaching Bible prophecy on the end times ?
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What should be the goal in teaching the Bible ?
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What should be our goal in reading the Bible ?
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— First, no hurry.
— First, salvation, the Gospel message for each person to receive Jesus.
— First, salvation, repent from my sin, accept Jesus who paid for my sin, to not go to hell but heaven.
— First things First, so end times teaching never overshadows making disciples—faithfulness—living for Jesus now.
— Don’t be afraid of end times, but be comforted as well as warned by what the Bible says.
— The coming hairy, scarey stuff described graphically, is all under God’s control, just like the hairy, scarey stuff we face now, that’s getting worse (birth pains), is under God’s control, and we are safe in His hand.
— All of it—now/future—present times/end times—can be turned over to Him, cast on Him, because He really cares for us.
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Surprises ?
— What surprises at THE END can one afford ?
— What surprises, what could I be wrong about and still be okay ?
— What surprises, what could I be wrong about and not be okay—totally lose it—lose faith—panic—give in to . . . just to survive—and go to hell ?
Surprise . . . ?
Surprise . . . ?
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So, after we study, and we dig, and we wonder, and we get scared out of our wits when growing evil hits home, and we pray—
What’s the bottom line ?
What’s the last word ?
What can we say to ourself, when others say it’ll all work out and the pendulum will swing back to normal—
What do we say when that doesn’t cut it ?
ONE—There will be THE MOMENT at THE END when we will see things happen, and we “lift up our eyes, for our Redemption (Jesus) draws near”.
TWO—Until then, I could give you Bible verse after Bible verse—and I do all over this site—but there is no substitute for you getting desperately deep in your own Bible every morning, every night, and in between.
Find verses that God gives you for wisdom, for comfort, for direction, for sharing—mark them in your Bible, date them with notes, write some down to take with you.
You’ll end up memorizing one that made a difference to you, and then another.
Leave your Bible open where you will pass it during the day and read again the verse you just highlighted, underlined, circled, and thanked God for.
NEVER STOP !
You’ll be safe through these troubled times, through the end times, to the end.
Remember . . .
Then, THE BEGINNING—WITH JESUS, IN PERSON !
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Ed Vitagliano, on American Family Radio, summarized my thoughts when he said,
“I don’t understand everything about the end times, but I know two things—He’s coming, and I’m going.”
CONCERN FOR CONSEQUENCES – OR – CONSIDER THE CALL
October 28, 2023 By Leave a Comment
If you’re worried about what’s going to happen, and what might happen to you . . .
or
If you somehow find hope and comfort saying things will work out and the pendulum always swings back to ‘normal’ . . .
Let me direct you to solid truth about things working out, with stipulations connected to a sweeping promise.
First, the conditions—no point in focusing on the promise without meeting the conditions.
ONE—“Love God“
Since this promise is in the Bible, it’s talking about the God of the Bible, which means it’s talking about Jesus.
Loving God, loving Jesus, means a relationship with Him, based on accepting His payment for our sins on the cross.
TWO—“Called“
God called.
We respond.
His doing.
His initiative.
Jesus came.
Jesus died for us.
We confess our sin.
We surrender our life to Jesus.
THREE—“According To His Purpose“
Why He saved us.
Why He called us.
Why we’re still here.
His purpose is—
“We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Now, the promise with the conditions—
“We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
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Applying the title:
CONCERN FOR CONSEQUENCES
OR
CONSIDER THE CALL
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Results
or
Reward
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Fear
or
Faithfulness
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Survival
or
Sacrifice
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My Life
or
My Mission
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Mark
or
Martyrdom