BUT YOU DO . . .

December 22, 2021 By Leave a Comment

Consider this common situation between two people (particularly in marriage):

One person brings a sincere complaint to the other, and the second person’s defensive response is, “But you do this other thing, that bothers me as well.”

Any criticism that only serves as a rebuttal or diversion from a complaint, is not legitimate to bring up at that time.

If one is not concerned enough about an issue to bring it up independently, it only serves to evade, when mentioned while dealing with another matter raised by the other person.

Bartering with faults is not wise or productive. It actually calls for mutual excusivity, which is eventually fatal in relationships.

Love that excuses small concerns by not addressing them seriously, eventually may harden into ignoring and even despising the person with bigger issues.

The test for progress or failure is whether the person bringing up something, believes the other person understands.

Rules of engagement:

+Stick to one subject at a time.

+Introduce your concern when there are no outstanding issues on the table.

+Show that you actually get what the other person is saying.

+Take the time to talk, and listen.

+If you know you both have time to talk and listen, you do not have to become anxious or lose self-control.

Filed Under: Educational, Family, Time

VALUABLE ‘ANTIQUES’

December 21, 2021 By Leave a Comment

Some things do not have to become antiques to reach their full value.

I thought of this when I woke up a few minutes ago, before I thought of anything about the new day.

I experienced a precious moment when something became instantly valuable, invaluable.

It was one of those rare moments (before I even opened my eyes) when my very first thought was to thank and praise God for the new day—and dedicate to Him everything about the day, before any of it happened or even crossed my mind.

Filed Under: Faith Based, Inspirational, Time

FAITH ALONE – – – HOW COULD THEY MISS IT ?

December 21, 2021 By Leave a Comment

How could the church hold people hostage for a thousand years, until Martin Luther rediscovered “faith alone” right there in the Bible all the time?

Answer—the church held the Bible FROM the people.

And we are so thankful that we can never make that mistake again. (?)

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

NOT GOOD ENOUGH ?

December 20, 2021 By Leave a Comment

List three things in your life that bother you, that you wish would be different, better.

– – –

Pause now, to firmly clarify them in your mind.

Pause.

Pause before reading on.

– – –

That means stop for one minute.

– – –

Now, can you say this, “God, what You have given me is not good enough.” ?

– – –

Then, these things that bother you—is it the circumstances, is it the people, is it yourself, is it really the things that you complain about, or is it God?

Is God interested in hearing your complaints?

Is it that God doesn’t give answers and fix things to suit you?

Is it easier to complain to others around you than to God, honestly?

Does that satisfy, honestly?

– – –

Repeat, “God, what You have given me is not good enough.”

– – –

What if you tried the following for a week (write a daily record that confirms your commitment):

Every time you want to think or speak a complaint about your circumstances or people, write that complaint to God, on paper.

Filed Under: Faith Based, Time

DOWN ?

December 20, 2021 By Leave a Comment

Down on your luck ?

Time for

Down on your knees !

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Inspirational, Time

DIMINISHING FORGIVENESS

December 18, 2021 By Leave a Comment

Repentance cannot be easy, and forgiveness cannot be free.

– – –

The emphasis in recent decades on forgiving yourself so you’ll feel better, and forgiving others who are not repentant, has cheapened the meaning of forgiveness.

Jesus clearly tells us to forgive someone who wrongs us and repents, even if it happens over and over, and He even declares that a prerequisite to God forgiving us.

But arbitrarily forgiving others without repentance, simply for our benefit, and working on forgiving ourselves after God has forgiven us, are recent man-made additions to theology, without Biblical basis.

This leads to multiple meanings for forgiveness, and confusion about our forgiveness before God.

+ One, as people are constantly told to forgive others unilaterally, many will think of God universally forgiving them likewise, without their specific, personal repentance.

Forgiveness is not forgiveness then—the two are not the same—it is something else, as shown by the numerous creative ways that modern psychologists and theologians each present their unique paraphrases, and call it forgiveness.

+ Two, forgiving ourselves is not in the Bible.

If we could forgive ourselves, then Jesus did not have to die for our sins.

If Jesus forgives us, then adding ‘forgiving ourselves’ means Jesus’ forgiveness wasn’t complete, which is really blasphemy.

– – –

Forgiveness is not a mental activity or psychological maneuver—it is a spiritual transaction of the heart between two persons—one confessing a wrong done to the other (the sacrifice of humility), and the second accepting the cost of the wrong and no longer holding the wrong against the first.

Likewise, forgiveness before God requires humbly confessing to Him my spiritual bankruptcy, and accepting the extreme price Jesus paid for my sin, because He loved me so I can love Him—complete, finished, done, no additions, deletions, or corrections, ever, by me or anybody else.

That calls for shouting HALLELUJAH, THANK YOU, JESUS ! ! !

– – –

Repentance cannot be easy, and forgiveness cannot be free.

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Inspirational

NOSTALGIC – – – “USED TO BE”

December 11, 2021 By Leave a Comment

“Nostalgic is not what it used to be.”—–Peter Rosenberger (Hope for the Family Caregiver, on afr.net)

Filed Under: Inspirational, Time

GAS CHAMBERS 2.0

December 4, 2021 By Leave a Comment

Gas Chambers 2.0.21

Gas Chambers 2021

The forced covid ‘vaccine’ to destroy Americans through fear and economics and illness and death, is simply the 21st century version of the nazi gas chambers.

Many are terrified.

Many have complied.

Many have died.

Many have serious illness.

Many have lost their jobs.

Many are threatened.

And, the relentless rampage of the government to rapidly use ever greater force to further cripple the entire country—which will soon impact every American—shows no signs of abating.

Maybe this graphic comparison to the gas chambers will wake up more people to the reality of the dictatorship, and how far it has already taken over. And, mark my word, it has only begun!

I don’t know if we are approaching—or have already passed—the point of no return.

What should we do?

What can we do?

Can we do anything?

I don’t know all the answers, so I ask God for wisdom for this time.

Then, “Lord, what will You have me to do?”

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

AFTER A MEAL – – – STOP

December 1, 2021 By Leave a Comment

After you finish a meal, do your digestive system a huge favor.

Give your tummy and the rest of the system complete priority for awhile—three or four minutes.

– – –

Our blood supply carrying fuel is channeled to three basic areas of our body—the muscles, the brain, and the digestive system—and prioritized according to the need of each area at any given moment.

Everyone understands the need for energy for muscles, supplied by the blood flow.

Fewer people realize how much energy, supplied by the blood flow, the brain uses when it is active.

Very few people stop to consider how the digestive system requires a lot of blood flow to supply energy to its job.

– – –

There is a limit to the total amount of energy the blood can supply to the whole body.

Applying this means that we can perform greater physical work if we do not have to use our brain a lot at the same time.

Likewise we can perform greater mental work if we do not have to use our physical muscles a lot at the same time.

– – –

Now, focus on the digestive system and its need (demand) for energy from the blood supply.

Immediately after eating, the digestive system must be given priority by reducing as much as possible the demand for energy (blood flow) to the muscles and the brain.

There is a simple three-word suggestion for anyone to do for a few minutes (at least three or four) right after eating.

Remain seated in a comfortable position that you can maintain—then . . .

MOTIONLESS

Become aware of every muscle, and consciously relax—focus on one muscle at a time if necessary, flexing and releasing. Then remain motionless.

TALKLESS

Do not talk or otherwise communicate with anyone or anything.

THOUGHTLESS

Spend this time without thinking about anything. Take each thought that comes and imagine setting it on a shelf immediately. If necessary focus on your physical tummy. This may be a bit challenging to successfully let go of every thought—just do the best you can, but focus on relaxing your body, your interacting with others, and your thoughts.

Send as little blood as possible to your muscles.

Send as little blood as possible to your brain.

Send as much blood as possible to your digestive system, and within a minute or two you will experience movement in your gut (your tummy saying ‘thank you’)—mission accomplished !

If you are really successful, you may find yourself dozing—extra mission accomplished ! !

When you decide to stop, be sure to transition slowly back into physical activity and mental activity and personal interaction.

Remember the three words:

MOTIONLESS—TALKLESS—THOUGHTLESS

Filed Under: Educational, Health, Inspirational

CHURCH AND GOVERNMENT

November 24, 2021 By Leave a Comment

Parallels between church control and government control.

The underlying premise for both—We know what’s good for you, better than you do.

Promises, promises, promises.

Promises made (many).

Promises kept (few).

– – –

Government promises the people free stuff, in exchange for reduced freedom—and greater government control.

Church promises the people eternal spiritual security, in exchange for increased theological and financial submission—and greater church control.

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