Lord, what else do I have to lose
to gain the perspective Paul had
writing letters of encouragement
from prison?
“THE GOOD OLD DAYS”
July 21, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Will we look back and say these were the good old days?
Make the most of the day, today.
How?
“Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, ‘I have no pleasure in them.'” —His Book
CHANGING AMERICA—GOOD, BAD, UGLY, OR . . .
July 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment
(7-15-12 bears repeating)
America is changing, soon.
There are three likely ways it will happen.
–A–
A true American steps up to the plate and leads this country out of this present darkness by leading us back to our beginning, in every way. This includes dependence on God, passion for every constitutional liberty, resolve against our enemies, faithfulness to our friends, guts to fight on any front that threatens our sovereignty, intolerance for traitors, swift justice, security at home, strength abroad (willing and able to wipe out evil), and the ability to inspire everyone in this country to fight for it now, or leave.
And that would be good.
This leader may or may not be an elected official.*
–B–
The dictator in the White House continues his takeover, using what is already working perfectly for him. Why shouldn’t someone thirsting for power continue grabbing more if no one is stopping him? I can’t believe people are still amazed at his lies and “misguided” policies. He told us he was changing America, and his actions concur. If he isn’t stopped now, it will be worse for the world than Hitler, because there are no “Allies” left.
And that would be bad.
I just hope he doesn’t call it America when he is done.
–C–
Islam sweeps in to fill the vacuum—the spiritual vacuum, the moral vacuum, the leadership vacuum, the economic vacuum, the patriotism vacuum.
And that would be ugly.
The vacuum without God in America WILL BE FILLED, shortly!!!
There is a fourth possibility—one that is totally optional—the only one that we may actually have control over. I am not going to predict its likelihood, because “With God all things are possible.”
–D–
American Christians start giving testimony to “turning from their wicked ways” about money. So far we hear a lot about praying and seeking God and turning from any sin except “laying up treasures on earth.” Repent means change, turning away from something, turning around to the opposite direction.
Christians and Christian leaders never consider their retirement accounts and investments to be contrary to the Bible, until Jesus’ words come true in the coming economic collapse: “moth and rust corrupt, and thieves break in and steal.”
Nothing has weakened and paralyzed the church’s influence and leadership more than its economic ties with this culture. Society has told the church to store up treasures (unbiblical) for retirement (unbiblical), spend enormous amounts on insurance (lack of trust in God—fear), and let the government take care of people in need because Christians have their money tied up for “someday” and “what if?” Now we are forced to give more and more to a godless government promising to do the church’s job. And we already know how that works.
That is why we are in the mess we are in.
Repentance—now that would be blessed.
* If we do not save this country, then part –A– above must read, “A true Texan steps up to the plate and leads . . . “
“DID GOD REALLY SAY?”
July 14, 2012 By Leave a Comment
“Did God Really Say?”—When the Bible is not enough.
For the first time I am attempting to put into words my lifelong observations of the most repeated pattern in all human history—man’s response to Satan’s first recorded words.
All people have a built-in need to relate to God. Everyone falls into one of two categories in response to that need, and in response to the question, “Did God Really Say?”
First Category: When the Bible Is Not Enough (four groups within this)
– One – Avoid the Bible (deniers)
Atheists attempt to avoid the question by avoiding God altogether. The only way to do that is to claim He doesn’t exist. But that nagging universal need inside to relate to God, forces the atheists to prove there is no God. Man can neither create the existence of God nor eliminate the existence of God–all we can do is talk and respond to what God said, including: “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.'” It is impossible for God to exist for some people and not exist for other people. So, for atheists:
Q: DGRS? A: What God?
– Two – Alter the Bible (religions)
All people in all human history create religions to try to reach God and get on His good side. Parallels and counterfeits to the Bible make some believe all religions will end up in the same place because they try, and seem to say the same thing. Any basic, honest study of world religions gives crystal clear conclusions to the title question above. All religions reject the Bible when they do not accept it in its entirety and in its exclusivity. So, for religions:
Q: DGRS? A: We made our own God.
– Three – Add to the Bible (cults)
These people are compelled to complicate the simple message from God in the Bible, by adding rules or teachings or leaders that make them exclusive. Their followers feel special as part of an elite group with a belief system superior to the Bible alone. So, for cults:
Q: DGRS? A: We know better.
– Four – Amplify the Bible (theologians)
Again, all through history, these learned people who claim to believe the Bible, spend a lifetime explaining the Bible, often eloquently and impressively. Then a strange thing happens, repeatedly with periodic certainty. These “explainers” of God’s book put more weight on their explanations than on the Bible itself, and their followers lose the distinction between God’s Word and man’s word. The cause, and the result, is people not reading their own Bibles. (From time to time, someone comes along and cleans things up—Jesus, Paul, Luther—but soon the pattern repeats) So, for theologians:
Q: DGRS? A: We have to tell people what God really said.
OR:
Second Category: When the Bible Is Enough (only one group here)
– One – Accept the Bible (believers)
Some people believe God did really say the whole Bible. But that is not what makes it true. Just as in the atheists section above, we can do nothing to make the Bible true or untrue. We can only believe it or reject it.
“All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
“The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.”
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me.” —Jesus
So, for believers:
Q: DGRS? A: Enough said.
For me personally:
God said it
That settles it.
So I believe it.
Thank You, Jesus.
DID GOD REALLY SAY?
The answer is not a variable that can change from one person to the next.
Putting it another way, “Either you’re on the ark, or you’re off the ark.”
Remember, God closed the door on the ark.
God said it was going to rain.
God made it rain—one time water.
God made it rain—one time fire and brimstone.
Man has invented pretty impressive bombs, and sometimes pretty impressive ideas (he thinks), but God has the last word (and the last bomb when necessary).
His first word was all impressive, “Let there be . . . ” We weren’t there, but we can all see what that first word created. Someday, every one of us will be there for His final word.
Don’t debate Him then.
Don’t doubt Him now.
MORNING PRAYER
July 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment
“Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning,
. For in You do I trust;
Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,
. For I lift up my soul to You.
Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies;
. In You I take shelter.
Teach me to do Your will,
. For You are my God;
Your Spirit is good.
. Lead me in the land of uprightness.”
. —His Book (Psalm 143:8-10)
LANGUAGE: the verb “TO BE” – – – OR NOT TO BE
July 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment
A basic in studying language is the declension of the verb “to be.” It starts with three short sentences of basic communication:
I AM.
YOU ARE.
IT IS.
Three divergent commentaries come to mind.
“I AM” is a God exclusive. He is so set apart from us that He even uses that as His name—His identity. God Is—and He doesn’t have to explain or meet our expectations or demands. But He did choose to tell us all we need to know about Him and life and after life.
“YOU ARE” brings to mind the phrase, “You’re the man!” That is commonly used to give someone a compliment and a positive verbal slap on the back. However, there is a caution and a warning with those words from a story in the Bible. When the preacher/prophet Nathan told a “set-up” story to confront king David about his sin with Bathsheba, he clinched it with, “You’re the man!” Guilty. Conviction. Repentance. Restoration.
“IT IS” calls for two examples from mistaken American politics.
01) What is the meaning of “IS” when it comes to sinful sex in the White House?
02) “IT IS” a tax. “IT IS” not a tax. “IT IS” a penalty. No, “IT IS” a tax, or else “IT IS” not constitutional. Either way, “IT IS” B A D .
PIONEER SPIRIT – – – TO – – – POWER WORSHIP
July 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Pioneer Spirit—when everyone understands that they have to do most things themselves, because there isn’t anybody else to do it for them. And when they need help for big projects or emergencies, the local community is there for them. And, it works both ways.
Power Worship—when people realize that the big community (aka government) can help them out in emergencies and beyond, they quickly lose the pioneer spirit of doing for themselves.
“If any would not work, neither should he eat” is replaced with “Our father who art in Washington, give us this day our daily bread.”
Hard work for food (as God told Adam) is replaced with worship of anything with power to provide free food (minus freedom).
Is pioneer spirit a thing of the past, from pioneer days of the century before last? Have we progressed to a better era and a superior system?
When 51% of Americans receive free aid from the government, they will not vote against POWER WORSHIP and return to PIONEER SPIRIT.
Yet, individuals can still work hard, but they must trust God to reward their labor when they can’t see it.
“. . . DOES THAT STAR-SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE” ?
July 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment
“O thus be it ever when free men shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation;
Blessed with victory and peace, may the heaven rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just;
And this be our motto, ‘In God Is Our Trust.’
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”
. —Francis Scott Key War of 1812
1776 America’s War for Independence
1812 America’s Second War for Independence
2012 America’s Third War for Independence
“Eternal Vigilance Is The Price Of Liberty”
DECISIONS – DECISIONS – DECISIONS
June 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment
If you change your mind often enough you’ll be right half of the time.
UNLESS – – –
– – – unless you are a squirrel crossing the street, and you start changing your mind.
Your chances go down quickly, below 50%.
So it is in life.
Sometimes you have to choose the right thing the first time and go for it.
“Never look back” (His Book)
“Never, Never, Never, Never, Never, Never, Never Give Up” (Winston Churchill)
FUN FOR KEEPS – – – FOR ALL AGES
June 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment
AFR Kid Connection
Saturday mornings
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