DISTURBING – – – NO LONGER DISTURBED

Is there something in life, in your life, that used to disturb you, that should disturb you, that no longer bothers you ?

– – –

X Did you go along with something you shouldn’t have, something ungodly, with someone ungodly leading you wrong ?
Did you fail to say “NO” and walk away ?

X X If you did not walk away, did you stick around and continue to participate in sin, with sinners ?

X X X Did you get so deep, that you expressed disdain, contempt for right, first in your thinking, then in your conversation, continuing in your action, to justify in your mind and to others what you were doing ?

– – –

X don’t walk with ungodly

X X don’t stand with sinners

X X X don’t sit with scornful

– – –

X association
leads to
X X participation
leads to
X X X appreciation, admiration, acclamation, alienation
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – * stop now and read below *
leads to
X X X X malicious, contemptuous, spiteful, hateful defense, vicious promotion

* Maybe you stopped with the first three, and would not consider the fourth.
Your involvement in ungodly is private, ‘loving’, not mean-spirited ?
You have no part in lgbt or woke or dei that plague so many and generate militant ill will.
But you still have disdain for anything that hints of judging you, that says you should stop.

Consider the following, where this discussion of progression started:
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly,
Who does not stand in the way of sinners,
Who does not sit in the seat of the scornful,
But his delight is in the law of the Lord . . .
The ungodly are not so . . .
The Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly will perish.”

That is from Psalm 1—please note the first and last words, underlined.
Read the whole psalm.
Read—Take Heed !

– – –

I wrote this out of my own life experience, literally.

WORSE THAN JOSEPH’S BROTHERS

What kept Joseph’s brothers from turning on their father like they did on Joseph ?
They were far away taking care of their father’s sheep.
They didn’t care to be honest, truthful to Dad.
They kept an image, a pretense of ‘respect’—farthest from truth.

Where did this whole story leave these brothers in their relation to God ?
They had a ‘form of godliness . . .’
Did their relationship with their father indicate their relationship to God ?
They maintained a show of respect for their father (they ran his business—they did take care of his flocks—they did not steal and run off with them).
But they did not hesitate to lie to Dad.
If they could not honor their father, how could they honor God ?
They couldn’t honor him with honesty, because they hated Joseph so thoroughly, because Joseph was Daddy’s favorite and showed (flaunted) it.

They had a “form of godliness, but denied its power”.
I suppose, that form of godliness left them with enough fear ? to not do anything to their father.
But wait, they nearly killed him with their lie—a lie presented through action.
And all the brothers went along with it, even the ones who wanted to spare Joseph—because they had to.

What happened when Joseph revealed himself as ruler in Egypt ?
I wonder if they told Dad the truth, the whole truth, when they got home.
I wonder how much of the truth of the past they told Dad.
Telling Dad the truth of what they did to Joseph could be harder than meeting Joseph after all the years of holding their secret, holding their lie, withholding the truth.
Even after their shakedown in Egypt, it could have been easier to doctor their lie with another lie to Dad, and say Joseph must have escaped the wild beast that left his multi-colored coat all bloody.
They did admit to each other, in Joseph’s hearing, that their troubles in Egypt were because of what they did to Joseph.

But one more cloud, heavy dark cloud, hung over their consciences—would Joseph tell Dad the truth when they all got to Egypt ?
And that wasn’t the end of their living in fear for many more years—what will Joseph do to them when Dad is gone—inevitable—and then Jacob died.
Was their relationship with their little brother ever ‘restored’, ever established—even when Joseph did nothing for revenge.

“You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good, to save many people alive [including you brothers].”

– – –

When you’re scared to death, fearing for your life, is it harder or easier to say, “I’m sorry.” ?
Is it easier to never be sorry, never repent, if you don’t HAVE TO ?

“The goodness of God is supposed to lead you to repentance.”

– – –

I wrote this out of my own life experience, identifying with Joseph.

TASTE OF HEAVEN

Last Sunday I was privileged to visit with someone so anointed by God that I was blessed with a taste of heaven for that hour (and memories of that hour since).

I mention very few personal acquaintances by name on this site, but this lifelong friend was so filled with Jesus, it seemed like he had been to heaven with Jesus, and let me see what a difference it makes in his life, and I can say how the visit is life-changing for me.

This friend is Ted Winkler
— Christian, with Jesus shining from his face and his words, and flowing from His presence in his room.
— Husband, over 50 years, wonderful words of loving tribute to his wife.
— Patient, with such kind appreciation for his caretakers.
— Friend, to many, to me, with forgiveness for the many years I failed to visit.

Ted is in the VA Nursing Home in Temple, Texas.
Ted is a Marine—signed up to serve in infantry in the Vietnam War.
Ted made it home from the war, with agent orange, and experienced some of the nightmares and some of the un-American hostility shown to our returning military (thankfully not as severe because he was back in Central Texas).
Ted was comfortable talking about every topic that came up, and addressing all my questions with equal grace, never changing his sweet demeanor.
Ted blessed me out of my socks, as surely as an angel from heaven.
Ted was better than an angel could have been—you see, angels can’t understand what we’ve been through, and the joy of forgiveness with Jesus’ payment for our sins—Ted shows that joy better than any person I know.

Ted is a first cousin to a bunch of my nephews and nieces, and we both consider it a blessing to be so related.
In fact, Daddy and Ted’s grandfather were double first cousins—how about that.

Ted and I went to a Christian school together in Temple—he was two years ahead of me.
We talked about those years, how we both treasured the commitment our parents had for Christ-centered education, and the thriving school where God blessed the priority the church placed on the school.
Side note—the school was outgrowing the building, and there was discussion of adding a second floor—Ted remembered this better than I because he was older.
Imagine that discussion, that emphasis, before the church had a church building—I remember the school desks moved aside on Friday and replaced with chairs for Sunday worship—God blesses such focus on Christian education.
I shared with Ted how Daddy told me several times on the phone when I was teaching in a Christian school in South Florida, “I’m so glad you’re telling those little lambs about Jesus”—that kept me going as a teacher, and Ted loved it.

While Ted and I were in this school, the church did build their building—very nice, and it remains beautiful to this day, on Ave. H and 43 St.

Interesting awareness that comes to me as I write this tribute to my friend, Ted Winkler—so alive with the love of Jesus, and so filled with joy like he’s already in heaven—“Lord, lift me with your Spirit like that, and let it show.”
Another interesting awareness as I write this review of the school and church that Ted and I shared—around the time of the new church building and the years after, I had no idea that there was an erosion of support for the school by some in the church—loss of spiritual vision/support led to loss of commitment/financial support—leading to complete loss and closing of the school when Ted finished seventh grade and I finished fifth grade.
Our loss as students, along with the others, and especially for Daddy, was devastating—we shared that on Sunday.
SO VERY SAD !

I also shared how my own children were very blessed when we moved from Florida to Texas and found the same school and church had new leadership and both were thriving.
Three of my children attended the school, one for all nine years.
I learned a long time ago with the ‘old school’ principal in Florida—
GOD HONORS WHAT PLEASES HIM !
Ted heartedly agreed.

Sadly, we also discussed the swing in the other direction once again, with the loss of support and vision for Christian education, and complete loss of the school.
SO VERY, VERY SAD !

– – –

I could go on, but must close now.
I knew Ted is a solid gold character, and a solid gold Christian.
I had no idea that I would be so blessed with the heavenly treat of the visit with Ted.
Thank You, Jesus.
Praise the Lord.

GOD’S BEST

God’s Best—Gift-Wrapped—In A Manger

HORRIFIC BABY KILLERS ! ! !

Pharoah killed babies.
Herod killed babies.
Biden kills babies.
Democrats kill babies.

Moses escaped.
Jesus escaped.
You escaped.
I escaped.

Millions did not escape.
Millions do not escape now !

We must save other babies.

“If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small.
Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
If you say, ‘Surely we did not know this,’ Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it?
He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?”

What does it cost you, me, to save babies ?

“You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood, striving against sin.”

“This kind [of demons] don’t come out except by praying and fasting.”

GOD MADE IT HOLY – – – WE KEEP IT HOLY

“In six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day.
And so the Lord blessed the sabbath, and made it holy.”

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

None of the ten commandments, given in the Old Testament, were ever minimized in the New Testament.
The church worshiped on Sunday (instead of Saturday) because Jesus rose from the grave on Sunday.

God made the sabbath holy by resting on the day after He finished creation.
We keep the sabbath holy by resting on the day after we do our work.
Jesus verified this by saying, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.”
This one commandment is specifically to benefit us, and in doing so, please Him.

A little addendum by God when He gave the commandment (not the addendums-s-s-s piled on by zealous religious leaders):
“Work six days and do everything you need to do. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to GOD, your God. Don’t do any work—not you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your servant, nor your maid, nor your animals [interesting], not even the foreign guest visiting in your town.”

We glorify God when we obey—and REST—His command, His instruction to take care of His creation, us, our body and mind.

“Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, Who is in you, Whom you have from God, and you are not your own?  For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit (mind), which are God’s.”

“I urge you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

We “sacrifice our bodies” and “renew our mind” by spending time with God every day–AND by resting our body and mind one day every seven days.

HIJACKING ‘TRANS’ – – – IT’S OBVIOUS

We need a survey to prove or disprove the following projection—

My guess is that well over 90% of males using the claim of transgender to get into women’s bathrooms, dressing rooms, locker rooms, and showers, are not dealing with issues of transgender themselves.
They are hijacking a perverted movement into the greatest opportunity ever to experience the thrills of bringing sexual desires into real-life, real-time fantasies—WITH IMPUNITY [like never before].

Likewise, the policymakers fabricating, and the media proliferating this fictitious, celebrated tsunami of indulgence are accomplishing their goal of destroying the foundation of civilization—while enjoying the freedom to talk openly about sex—WITHOUT RESTRAINT ! !—WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY ! !

IN 2025

In 2025 I will
— complain less
— explain less
— thank more*
— praise more*
— say it more, aloud

*And that would be, “Thank You, Jesus—Praise the Lord !”
The saddest day for atheists (and those who live like them) is Thanksgiving.
They have to feel satisfied, full, and maybe even thankful.
But they can’t thank God (against their ‘religion’)—and He provided everything they enjoy.

PRODIGALS WITHOUT THE PIGPEN

Prodigals without the riotous living
Prodigals without the consequences
Prodigals without the crash
Prodigals without hitting rock bottom
Prodigals without coming to themselves
Prodigals without accountability
Prodigals without confrontation
Prodigals without intervention
Prodigals without consequences (again)
Prodigals without involvement
Prodigals without anyone willing to help
Prodigals without a day of reckoning
Prodigals without Jesus

Prodigals with “approval”
Prodigals with “encouragement”
Prodigals with “support”
Prodigals with “respect”
Prodigals with “reinforcement”
Prodigals with “excusers”
Prodigals with “examples”
Prodigals with “mentors”
Prodigals with “good morals”
Prodigals with “a form of godliness”
Prodigals without THE POWER OF GOD

FIGURE IT ALL OUT ?

“We think it’s our job to figure it all out.”
—–Willie Robertson, in two hour interview with Tucker Carlson

That was a most enjoyable two hours—more fun and enlightening than any episode I’ve seen of Duck Dynasty.
Watch it if you can.