TRINITY – – – WHAT FOR ?

February 26, 2025 By Leave a Comment

Can anyone give me a good reason for ‘trinity’ ?

How does trinity really help to ‘understand God’ ?

How does trinity really help to describe God as the Bible says ?

How does trinity help anyone see their sin, come to repentance, accept Jesus as their Savior ?

How does trinity help anyone want and experience a closer walk with Jesus ?

How does trinity inspire anyone to tell others to believe as a child—required to reach heaven ?

How does trinity not raise questions ?

– – –

As I have written in lots of ways, trinity always brings out new attempts to explain it, including ridiculous terms that are laughable to anyone outside theological ivory towers.

Trinity doctrine ‘developed’ over centuries—why doesn’t anyone consider ‘undeveloping’ trinity, for lack of useful function to the great commission.

Is there really any defense of trinity other than “we’ve always [almost always] done it [taught it] this way ?

– – –

Reading/studying about trinity immediately gets into verbal weeds—so thick it creates the soil in Jesus’ parable where weeds choke out the chance of the Word producing fruit.
Effective evangelism necessarily avoids trinity, because it is a liability for telling people to believe.

Yet, as I said before, trinity continually rolls off the tongues of teachers, without a thought of how it comes across to listeners.
What DO they think when they hear trinity ?—probably nothing.

Trinity—just accept it—don’t question it—don’t ask questions—don’t make anyone make it complicated by asking and expecting answers to your questions. (Read that again, slowly.)

So—please—what in the world is wrong with just skipping trinity ?—and just using Bible verses with the Father and the Son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit ? ? ?
Does the Bible have enough for preachers, teachers, listeners. small groups, personal reading and study—without trinity ?

– – –

Test with this summary:
Bible passages warm the heart and challenge the mind and strengthen the faith.
Trinity does ‘neither’ of the three above.

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

TASTE OF HEAVEN

February 26, 2025 By Leave a Comment

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.

Filed Under: Faith Based, Family, Inspirational, Time

BULLDOGER IN WASHINGTON

February 26, 2025 By Leave a Comment

Been needed for some time.

Some things you just can’t fix.

(BULL DOGE R)

Filed Under: Financial, Inspirational, Political---Cultural, Time

DID GOD REALLY SAY ?

February 15, 2025 By Leave a Comment

If I put that title in quotation marks, who should I credit with the statement, the question ?
Think I’ll save that for a bit, for anyone who doesn’t already have the answer (the author).

I looked up at the stars a few minutes ago, as I do on every clear night.
Did God really say, “Let there be light” ?
One of the most fascinating phrases in the Bible, when God made the lights, is included almost as an afterthought, a minor detail—ABSOLUTELY NOTHING MINOR ABOUT IT—“Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also.”
“He also made the stars.”
“HE ALSO MADE THE STARS.”
“HE ALSO MADE THE STARS.”

We (mankind) always knew there were a lot of stars, a whole lot of stars !
But only now, after 6,000 years of seeing them by every person who ever lived—only now have we learned just how many stars there are.
Correction—we only know how many we don’t know are out there, besides the ones we know.
It keeps getting harder to count them.
It keeps getting harder to comprehend God.
It keeps getting more ridiculous to think there is no God behind everything.

Isn’t it interesting how all the scientific discoveries of the millennia, and everything we’ve uncovered in the tiniest particles of the universe, and the most massive stuff out there, and in the earth—how it all, ALL, fits perfectly in what the Bible tells us from the beginning.

I see bridges in massive highway interchanges, and I thank God for placing that potential in man and the materials to do it with—all of that built-in during the one week of creation.

I DO BELIEVE GOD IS GREAT ! ! !

Did God really say, “Let there be light” ?

Did God really say, “Let there be . . . everything else in all the world, in all the universe ?

Did God really say, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” ?

Did God really say, “Let Us make man in Our image.” ?

Did God really say, “In the image of God He created man—male and female He created them.” ?

Did God really say, “In the beginning was the Word—and the Word was with God—and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us.” ?
That would be Jesus—check it out in the first chapter of John in your Bible.

Did God really say ?
You better believe it !

What are you going to do about it ?
READ YOUR BIBLE—IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE—GUARANTEED !
– – –
And now, if anyone has any doubts about what God really said—
Who raised the question, “Did God really say ?” ?
The devil said it, and tricked people into sin ever since the Garden of Eden.

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

TO DEVELOP A DOCTRINE

February 11, 2025 By Leave a Comment

First–
Find all Bible verses that might speak to the subject.

Second–
Read, re-read, study, re-study these verses.

Third–
Refrain from saying anything about the doctrine you’re thinking about defining/nailing down.

Fourth–
Let the Bible verses speak for themselves, by themselves, without commentary.

Fifth–
When you think you ‘have to’ formulate a doctrine statement, just use Bible verses.

Where do we get the idea that we can say (must say) ‘it’, that is ‘anything’, better than the Bible says it ?

– – –

What about Bible verses that seem to say different things than other verses on a subject ?

Do we think we can solve that by adding man’s words, to explain what God didn’t make clear to our satisfaction in the Bible ?

“Oh, let me explain it, and I can make it clear” ? ? ?

“Oh, let Me explain it, and I can make it clear” ? ? ?

“Oh, let ME explain it, and I can make it clear” ? ? ?

There’s more where that comes from.
Example—30,000,000 “explanations for the trinity” (right there on the internet first time I looked)—just because Bible verses alone weren’t enough to tell us about God—Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

We get in trouble “comparing ourselves with those who commend themselves . . . measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, they are not wise.”*

We have a theological pattern of creating doctrines, for 2000+ years — — — shake it off ?—but nobody does that—why not ?—we’re stuck—everybody refers to some revered person or statement in the past — — — almost impossible to start fresh with just the Bible, without somebody ‘enlightened’ telling us . . . how it is . . . what it really says . . . what it really means.

Why do we refer to what people say about God, a long time ago, and today, to form our doctrine ?

XX– Is it because the Words in the Word of God are not enough for us ?
OR
XX– Is it because it is too much work for us to spend time in the Bible, for ourselves, to see what God says about Himself ?

Who do we want to impress with our knowledge of theology ?
How do we expect to impress them ?
— By quoting important people to show our knowledge of church history ?
OR
— By quoting God to show everything we must know about Him and History !

“Study to show yourself approved unto God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately explaining the Word of Truth.”

* “For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
But ‘he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.’ For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.”

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

WHAT DIRECTS YOUR LIFE ?

February 11, 2025 By Leave a Comment

Every morning, what is consistently first—in your thoughts, words, actions ?

Not just what is your focus to do that day ?

What is underneath, that determines that focus ?

Is it inside you ?
Is it from something outside you ?

It is important that you answer for yourself—WHAT DIRECTS MY LIFE ?—before I tell you what I think.

Filed Under: Educational, Inspirational, Time

TRUMP CAMPAIGN – – – TRUMP PRESIDENT

February 8, 2025 By Leave a Comment

TRUMP CAMPAIGN
+ Promises
+ Personalities
+ Rhetoric

TRUMP PRESIDENT
+ Strictly Policies
+ Action
+ Rhetoric Left Behind

– – –

To all Trump supporters/commentators:
Please, follow Trump’s example—since inauguration, consistent pattern of sticking to business, strictly keeping his promises with action to follow through.
He has no time—He’s wasting no time—on election style trivia—laser focused on what needs to be addressed, now.
Same for us ! ! !
Discontinue the disclaimers of mentioning Trump’s imperfections, and get on board with supporting and praying and thanking God for what He is doing through this President.
Before November 5 the consistent compulsion to always mention something about Trump that wasn’t quite to our liking—that pattern of talking could have cost us the election, with voters hearing that hesitation and losing conviction to vote for Trump—LEAVE THAT BEHIND !
The same is true for us now—the momentum must be maintained and reinforced with the same commitment from before the election.

+ + + AND, communicate to all republicans in Congress—Please leave all previous patterns of reservations about Trump, and get behind the MAGA agenda NOW, before this window to restore America closes again.

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

TURN AROUND – DON’T DROWN

February 5, 2025 By Leave a Comment

“Turn around—Don’t drown”
—–Noah

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

“END TIMES” – – – SATURATION, THEN WHAT ?

January 29, 2025 By Leave a Comment

“Perilous times” indeed, everywhere, as promised in the last days.

Seems right to hear a lot of Biblical teaching connecting the events around us with what the Word of God says.

Especially, it seems right to hear a lot of preaching encouraging everyone to be ready for Jesus’ coming again.

ALSO, it seems every preacher/teacher focused on end times has their own definitive end-time time-line that schedules the sequence of events coming up right around the corner.
Most of them are very emphatic on just how things will take place, including down to very specific details.
Most offer a chart explaining visually what to expect.
A number of ministries openly declare prophecy to be their central focus now.

My guess is that the desperate conditions facing the world today, will get the attention of many listeners.
Everyone needs hope, and many will hold on to answers offered with end-times teaching.
The Bible is loaded with the answers we need, for life, for salvation, for these days, for the last days, for the ‘day’ after our ‘last day’.

Teaching that brings us to admitting our sin, repentance for our sin, acceptance of Jesus’ payment for our sin, to get our name in “The Lamb’s Book of Life” in heaven—that must consistently be at the heart and center of every Jesus’ ministry.

– – –

“SATURATION, THEN WHAT ?”

One–
How long will the saturation of end-times prophecy teaching hold listeners’ attention ?
Repetition of the Gospel is one thing—the right thing.
Repetition stating the imminent development of the last days events can bring a weariness of waiting for additional drama to happen to keep connecting Bible verses and current events.
Prediction—repeat of natural, human response, “Scoffers will come in the last days, saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? All things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.’”

Two–
What happens when the “sequence of events coming up right around the corner”, don’t happen right around the corner ?
Will ministry leaders be aware of what their listeners really need to hear, now, to make it through their personal, current crises, when news headlines don’t match Bible headlines for the day.
The ‘blown-away connection’ between prophecy and the news must give way to meeting people where they are hurting in their daily lives.
End-time emphasis fades into the future when ordinary people need ordinary help with ordinary words from the Lord—plenty of words from The Word to lift people up and strengthen them to make it through the ‘now-times’.

Three–
Most important, how should you monitor your emphasis on end-times teaching ?
Read the following article on this site (enter in search bar):
END TIMES – – – WHAT’S YOUR POSITION ?
If you are interested in reading more, simple enter END TIMES.

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Inspirational, Time

PRESIDENT TRUMP, CONSIDER THIS:

January 25, 2025 By Leave a Comment

Donald Trump, Mr. President,
“Consider Him, Jesus, who endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and faint in your way.”

You’re on America’s mission, with Americans behind you.

If you’re also on God’s mission, nothing will stop His power behind you.

Millions of us prayed and voted you into the White House.

Our prayers continue, and “We are confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

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