“HALF SLAVE, HALF FREE” – – – HALF DEATH, HALF LIFE ?

“A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free.

I do not expect the Union to be dissolved — I do not expect the house to fall — but I do expect it will cease to be divided.

It will become all one thing or all the other.

—–Abraham Lincoln, June 16,1858 after the Illinois Republicans chose him as their candidate for U. S. Senator

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Indeed, how telling is that quote for our country today.

We have quickly become unsustainably divided in America.

The emphasis on race has been used beyond reality to whip up division, because it is an old, convenient means to weaken a country for takeover.

What is far more significant in our current division and the very survival of our divided America, is what God says about our killing babies—for fifty years across the country, and now dividing us state by state for life or death.

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A day after Roe has been overturned, WE THANK GOD ! ! !, and we thank Donald Trump for his three Supreme Court appointees that made yesterday possible ! ! !

We know how much more work is required to abolish abortion across America.

Judgment has already started falling for the blood of sixty million babies.

Now the question, “How long can this country stand, half ‘death’ and half ‘life’?”

Rephrasing from Lincoln’s speech:

“‘A house divided against itself cannot stand.

I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half death and half life.”

CONTENT ? or DISTURBED ?

Disturb us, Lord, when

We are too well pleased with ourselves,

When our dreams have come true

Because we have dreamed too little,

When we arrived safely

Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when

With the abundance of things we possess

We have lost our thirst

For the waters of life;

Having fallen in love with life,

We have ceased to dream of eternity

And in our efforts to build a new earth,

We have allowed our vision

Of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,

To venture on wider seas

Where storms will show your mastery;

Where losing sight of land,

We shall find the stars.

We ask You to push back

The horizons of our hopes;

And to push into the future

In strength, courage, hope, and love.

—–Attributed to Sir Francis Drake, 1577

HOW TO GET CLOSE TO GOD

-Not by seeing or saying how good I am.

-Not by the greatest show on church stage.

-Not by seeking happiness.

-Not by material blessings.

-Not by getting comfortable.

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Am I experiencing goodness?

Am I experiencing trouble?

Can I get close to God?

Do I want to get close to God?

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First of all, it’s all about Him, not me.

So, what does He have to say about getting close to Him?

What does He have to say about pleasing Him?

What can I give God, what can I sacrifice, that could impress Him, and get us close?

– – –

How can I get close to God?

+”The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit—a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”

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

+”Call upon Me in the day of trouble—I will deliver you—and you will glorify me.”

+”Call on Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things you don’t know.”

+”Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”

Getting close to God is not about what I think would do it, but yielding to His way to get us close.

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And now the big one, to get really close to God.

According to Christians around the world, right now, the most guaranteed way to experience the best, the sweetest closeness with God, is through persecution.

Not my idea of fun, but again, what does God say about getting close to Him?

+”Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake . . .

+Blessed are you, when men will revile you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake.

+Rejoice, and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven.”

SAID THAT

“I don’t know what a woman is.”—–Supreme Court candidate

“What difference does it make now anyway.”—–Presidential candidate

“I did that.” . . . and that . . . and that . . .—–President?