GOD LOVES BARBECUE ! ! !

May 21, 2025 By Leave a Comment

God loves barbecue.

Think about it—after all, we’re made in His Image, so . . . !
Surely, enjoying barbecue is a blessing from God !

Doesn’t say if God ever ate any, but He sure delighted in the smell of barbecued beef (and others), particularly sacrificed from the heart of one right with God.
‘Incidentally’, vegetarian sacrifices were included, but never sufficient for dealing with sin—God required shedding blood from the beginning, and it pleased Him.

Lots of Bible verses on this, making God happy (look up “sweet smelling sacrifice”).

“The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma (of Noah’s sacrifice after the flood) and said, ‘Never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done.’ ” *

Since Jesus told the following story to give the New Testament completion of getting right with God, I find it hard to believe He would have refused good barbecue while He was here.

Prodigal Son—
One of my favorites, for lots of personal reasons, including this:
Jesus made up the story, and intentionally included the extravagant feast with barbecued beef from the calf that was fattened especially for this (long anticipated by the father).
So, our return to Our Father creates joy in heaven that warrants barbecue of a fattened calf.
I LOVE IT ! ! !

(also, THE PIGPEN, on this site)
– – –
In the book, DADDY SAID, I relate a personal experience growing up and enjoying the fatted calf ! ! !

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* On a different note than this article, the next verse after the one above, puts to rest any fear of catastrophic climate change:
“While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.”
God and His Word had the first word “In the beginning”—and always will.

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

OMNIPRESENT

May 17, 2025 By Leave a Comment

There was a time, in times past, when that word referred only to God—rightly so—still true today.

But when we look to things man has invented, created, developed, and built, our perception of omnipresent is changing.

We enjoy many things we have made, and we expect no limits to what more we can do.

We also fear things we have made, and what else we might make, and we wonder if we are better off.

We can create for good because we we are created “in the image of God”.

We can create for evil because we have a fallen nature, sin.

Over the millennia of history, man has created for good, to improve this life—and man has created for evil, to cause suffering and destroy this life.*

Our history is indeed omnipresent.

– – –

NOW, new on the scene—TECHNOLOGY.
+ Computers
+ Cell Phones
+ Internet

And NOW, new on the scene of technology—ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
+ Where did AI come from ?
+ How is AI coming so fast ?
+ What are the limits of AI ?
+ Should we fear AI ?
+ We do fear AI !

Artificial Intelligence ?
+ Omnipresent—yes, so it seems.
+ Omnipotent—no, never.
+ “But God . . .”

If you are worried about AI,
If you fear AI,
Then use a bit of technology to find all the Bible verses that say, “But God . . .”
You will find all over again that “God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble.”

A few lines from old hymns that renew our faith, like the lines from ‘old’ Bible verses that never get old:

“Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.”
—–from Day By Day, And With Each Passing Moment (read all the verses)

“Truth forever on the scaffold,
Wrong forever on the throne,      
Yet that scaffold sways the future,
And, behind the dim unknown,  
Standeth God within the shadow,
Keeping watch above his own.”
—–from The Present Crisis, by James Russell Lowell, ardent abolitionist of the 18th century (read the entire poem)

*”And do not fear those who kill the body [this life], but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
—–Jesus
“The thief (satan) comes to kill, steal, and destroy—I came that you may have life, and have it more abundantly.”
—–Jesus

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

END-TIMES TEACHING ? – – – ONE MORE TIME

May 17, 2025 By Leave a Comment

I’m observing emphasis on avoiding trouble of the end times competing with evangelism to save people from hell.
So, I repeat warnings about some things I see.

Honestly, I’m getting weary, even angry, over the super-learned teachers with every detail answer to every question, claiming it’s all so simple, with a verse for every detail—“just like this”.
So, where does that leave the rest of us who don’t get that ‘degree’ of ‘education’ ?

Verses quoted—where do they come from ?, context ?—teachers don’t have time (or don’t want to waste time) to explain how each verse’s context fits the(ir) big picture.

How could I start from scratch—with my Bible only, explaining itself—to arrive at the same conclusions, same specifics, same detailed time-line, same answers for everything ?
How much study on my own would it take (overwhelming, insurmountable) ?

– – –

Is everyone like me to be left with limited options about teaching on end-times ?
People are going to take one of these:

— Pick a leader/teacher (from the assortment out there that have each of their end-times time-lines nailed down) that sounds good, sounds like he might be right, sounds like he knows more than I can ever learn from my own Bible study, that gives me a clear picture to hold on to—because ‘Lord Knows’ how scary and complicated things are getting.

OR,

— (less likely) Diligently, fervently read my Bible (disengaging what I’ve heard from high education, from logic combined with Scripture, from frequent “I think” included, from “It’s simple, this way”), until I’m satisfied.
Satisfied that I have answers from my own study.
Satisfied that it’s okay to have remaining questions unanswered ?

OR,

— (more likely) ‘Check out’, get off the frenzied bandwagon of saturated talk that everybody’s supposed to be on because the end is near.
The excitement is wearing off, wearing down, losing my attention.

– – –

The ‘answer for every question’ scholars sure sound like it’s not okay, or not necessary, to still have questions—just ask them, and they’ll tell you.
Example: Descriptions of our roles on earth, with unimaginable detail—after it’s all over from the bad stuff.

– – –

+ Logic
I hear basic premises about rapture, etc., using logic to determine the way it has to be.
Just listening, I’m not so sure, with just the Bible.

+ Rationale
Reasoning seems pervasive, using verses to say it must mean this, and then building on that assumption to figure out everything else.
Building on . . ., building on . . ., rushing on to boatloads of exciting details, without taking time on the foundation—time to let the Bible itself carry its own weight.
Seems to me the interpretations outweigh the Bible—
Is that not true for most listeners ?
Following the teacher seems more important than “searching the Scriptures daily to see if those things were so, that were taught them.”
Seems it’s not kosher, polite, respectful, acceptable, . . ., to question the teacher who ‘obviously’ knows much more than the rest of us.
What if the teacher is not as right as he appears or claims ?

+ I think
Almost unnoticed in much end-time teaching is the frequent use of “I think” in answering questions.
At least they’re being a little honest, but the typical listener caught up in the scholarly answers does not pause to reflect and question, because he might miss something if he stops to think.
Most teaching proceeds with such a rapid pace, that listeners can’t stop to ask questions (by design perhaps, for that reason ?).
What a far cry from Billy Graham sounding out, “The Bible Says” over and over and over.
THAT GAVE HIS MESSAGE POWER ! ! !
Graham never said, “I think” in his messages—that weakens and dilutes what anyone has to say.

+ Consensus of theologians
If you have the clear authority of the Word of God behind you, you don’t have to refer to what most theologians say.
When does opinion of man, even a majority, ever validate a message from the Bible ?

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

WHERE DOES TROUBLE COME FROM ?

May 14, 2025 By Leave a Comment

To be more specific—the real question—
WHERE DOES YOUR TROUBLE COME FROM ?

I’ll give you a simple test question about trouble—not general in the world, but in your life experience, like now.

When trouble comes your way (big trouble, little trouble, any trouble), does it make you turn to God ?

Does every trouble bring this Bible verse to your mind, to do it on the spot ?
“Call upon Me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver you, and you will glorify Me.”

If trouble serves that purpose, then you can know the trouble comes from God, to bring you closer to Him.
“When You said, ‘Seek My Face‘, my heart said, “Your Face, Lord, I will seek.’ “
– – –
The mystifying, sometimes maddening feelings that often come with trouble, still happen (we’re still human), but even that is subject to Almighty God ruling from above, watching over all His dear ones through it all.
– – –
Then the rest of Biblical principles apply and come true–
“Tribulation (trouble) works patience, and patience works experience, and experience works hope, and hope makes us not ashamed.”
“We know that all things (good things, bad things, ugly things) work together for good to those who love God, those who are called according to His purpose.”

– – –

If you don’t have trouble in your life, if you say you don’t have trouble, then you don’t need to read this, or you’ll say you don’t need to read this . . . . . . yet.

– – –

Do we love Jesus ?
How much ?
How close to Jesus do we want to get ?
Do we want Jesus to use everything—everything—everything in our life to get us closer to Him ?
Do I want Jesus to use everything—everything—everything in my life to get me closer to Him ?

Is it not true that troubled times bring us closer to Jesus more than good times ?
– – –
– – –
I just want to know You more.

“I want to know You,
I want to hear Your Voice,
I want to know You more.
I want to touch You,
I want to see Your face,
I want to know You more.”

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Inspirational, Time

ESSENTIAL MINUTIA

May 14, 2025 By Leave a Comment

This is an assortment of the minor details of life, some with explanation, some without.

ESSENTIAL MINUTIA – ‘Minor Detail’—we’ve often heard or used that phrase to highlight how a particular matter is anything but minor.

ESSENTIAL MINUTIA – Billy Graham emphasized three things essential to success in his ministry—Prayer, Prayer, Prayer.

ESSENTIAL MINUTIA – James Dobson emphasized three things essential to success in his ministry—Detail, Detail, Detail.

ESSENTIAL MINUTIA – The Bible verse that tells the creation of the big lights, ends with a simple mention of “and He made the stars also.”
— In all 6000 years of history, who ever knew how big that little phrase at the end of making the big lights (sun, moon) that order our days “. . . the stars also”—how big that would be.
— We always knew there were too many stars to count.
— Who ever knew how big each one of them is ?
— Who ever knew how many there are, until now ?
— And now, with advanced science exploring ‘out there’ and counting, we have a better idea how many stars there are.
— So, how many stars are there, really ?
— We have no idea, there are so many, and so many more ! ! !

ESSENTIAL MINUTIA – If God took care in creating all the extravagant detail of the universe, the monumental and the minutia—and then topped it all by creating us—most surely He cares about taking care of us, in every detail.

ESSENTIAL MINUTIA – This includes daily routines in our personal lives, our families, our children, our health, our fitness, and challenging changes in details for seniors.

ESSENTIAL MINUTIA – Consider the VERY FIRST thought, word, action of your day.
— God, spouse, bathroom.
— Pattern, to habit, to auto-routine.
— Must not be automatic, not just a routine.

ESSENTIAL MINUTIA – Is each morning, each new day a routine ?
— Not on your life.
— Your life, you’re given another day—why ?—what for ?—from God.
— What will you do with this non-guaranteed gift ?
— THANK THE GIVER, for starters.
— Find what He has for you, why He gave you another day.
— Commit to giving it back to Him.
— Faithfulness, service, sacrifice, PRAISE.

ESSENTIAL MINUTIA – Covid mandates.
— Essentials open, others closed.
— Says who ?
— ESSENTIAL CHURCH, watch the movie.

ESSENTIAL MINUTIA – Jesus fed over 5000 people, with plenty of free food, and then He told them to gather the leftovers, the crumbs, so nothing is wasted.

ESSENTIAL MINUTIA – “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.”

ESSENTIAL MINUTIA – Jesus often got up a great while before day and departed to a solitary place and prayed, and sometimes he prayed all night.

ESSENTIAL MINUTIA – Details for seniors.
— Little things that were/should be automatic routine, now take most of your time, and all of your concentration.
— ‘Important Things’ become MOST IMPORTANT.

ESSENTIAL MINUTIA – Does God have everything covered when we don’t, when we start losing it ?

ESSENTIAL MINUTIA – Time alone with Jesus, every day, often.
– – –
– – –
Read SENIOR YEAR(S) on this site (type in search bar).

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Family, Health, Political---Cultural, Time

D.O.S.E

May 3, 2025 By Leave a Comment

(Just to think about, until I tackle another area of serious inefficiency, waste, fraud, theft that robs humanity of the truth and the life and freedom we could have.)

Department
Of
Spiritual
Efficiency

See also D.O.M.E.

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

D.O.T.E.

May 3, 2025 By Leave a Comment

(Just to think about, until I tackle another area of serious inefficiency, waste, fraud, theft that robs humanity of the truth and the life and freedom we could have.)

DEPARTMENT
OF
THEOLOGICAL
EFFICIENCY

See also D.O.M.E.

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

VERBAL HIDING – – – JUST LIKE LATIN

May 3, 2025 By Leave a Comment

“Trust me”—just as dangerous from theologians as from politicians.

Quoting/Trusting/Revering early church fathers set the stage for the church developing exclusive standing on “understanding God”, and hiding the Bible in Latin, so people depended on what church leaders said rather than reading/studying/understanding the Bible directly, for themselves.

One example:
This has persisted to this day through holding onto and revering trinity and all its gobbledygook ‘explanations’—or lack thereof because the impossibility thereof.

Why can’t anyone see the theological “emperors have no clothes” ?

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